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Residents demand faster action on brown water, testing and pipe replacement after Salina commission meeting
Summary
A lengthy citizens forum focused on recurring brown water, low pressure and possible contamination; residents urged immediate third-party testing, use of one-time funds and accelerated water-main replacement; staff said a rebate program and third-party testing are being launched.
An extended public-comment period at the City Commission meeting became a forum for residents pressing the city to move faster on water testing and pipe replacement. City staff explained a rebate program for homeowners is live and that about 15 applications had been received; staff also said they are arranging independent third-party testing to respond to circulated test results and resident concerns.
"We are gonna have a third-party go out and test some water throughout the city," the city manager said, adding staff will prioritize addresses that have submitted rebate applications. Residents described persistent brown water, low pressure and health concerns. Sherry Spratland said KDHE-tested samples were being retested and called the water problem a top priority. Ben Wenzel urged the commission to reallocate funds from nonessential projects to an accelerated multi-year water-main replacement plan and referenced a contractor proposal for a seven-year replacement program.
Several residents said they had independently taken samples to certified labs and that those results showed abnormalities. In response, staff said the city follows KDHE sampling protocols and will supplement those tests with third-party sampling targeted at resident complaints. Staff promised to reach out to rebate applicants in the next couple of weeks with testing timelines and said the next group to be addressed will follow completion of the 10th/11th Street project.
