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Wichita City hears progress report on water treatment plant; officials cite early fall transition target
Summary
City staff and contractors reported progress in repairing solids-contact clarifiers and restarting plant systems, with performance testing underway since mid‑June and an early‑fall target for city takeover if three PTAs pass.
City officials on the Wichita City Council workshop on June 22 heard an update on the downtown water treatment plant and its delayed startup, where operations staff say repaired clarifiers are now undergoing extended performance testing.
Don Henry, public works and utilities, told the council that city staff and contractor crews have restarted SEC‑3 and completed temporary and permanent repairs on other clarifiers. "We did start SEC‑3 up and restarted the plant on June 16," Henry said, noting crews then began a minimum-21‑day performance test regimen on each of three water sources. He said city operators are on site to learn operations during startup and performance testing.
Ron, the senior executive representative for Wichita Water Partners, described a revised acceptance plan the city and contractor agreed to in which each repaired clarifier must pass three separate performance testing anniversaries (PTAs) before final acceptance. "The testing period occurs over a minimum of 21 days and 235 days on all three water sources," Ron said, adding that a fourth PTA is scheduled if retesting is required. He said SEC‑5 remains the final clarifier to receive rake arm and draft‑tube work and that weather has slowed internal coating work.
Council members pressed staff about risk and timing; Henry said crews have added coating crews and extra trades to keep the schedule moving and that, "assuming all goes well in testing, we're still on track for early fall to transition operations to the city." The presentation emphasized that successful PTAs — not a calendar date — will determine the handover date and that the city will continue staff training and hands‑on operations during the testing window.
If testing reveals additional issues, contractors and the city said a fourth testing window will be used. Council members indicated they will continue to monitor performance reports and expect a detailed operations and staffing transition plan before final acceptance.
