Wichita, Kansas, is embarking on a bold and controversial journey to transform its wastewater into drinking water, joining a small but growing club of cities worldwide. This ambitious project, which has been approved by the Wichita City Council, aims to address the city's water scarcity issues and support expanding industries, but it also faces significant challenges and public skepticism.
The $10 million investment in a direct potable reuse program and a small-scale water purification plant is a crucial first step in what could become a groundbreaking legacy project for the city. Gary Janzen, director of Wichita Public Works and Utilities, emphasizes the project's educational and regulatory value, stating, 'This is going to be a proving ground. It’s going to be a trial. It’s going to be a great place for regulators to see how this process is working.'
The treatment process is complex and involves multiple stages of treatment to ensure the water meets drinking water standards. Council member Becky Tuttle humorously illustrates the process with her 'toilet to treatment to treatment to treatment to treatment to tap' analogy, highlighting the multiple layers of purification.
The pilot project, which will not directly feed into the city's distribution system, is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2027. It will purify about 70,000 gallons of water a day, providing valuable data and public education. The city plans to apply for federal grants to support future water reuse projects, which could significantly impact water rates and the city's infrastructure.
One of the key challenges is public perception. Council members acknowledge that education is crucial to overcoming the public's inhibitions about drinking treated sewer water. To address this, Council member Becky Tuttle suggests a creative approach: using the treated wastewater to make beer. She recalls a similar idea from a consultant, where beer was made from water reuse in another community, and suggests that a local brewery could bottle beer from the pilot project, making it more palatable to the public.
The project also has political and regulatory hurdles. The city has been grappling with project delays and rising water and sewer rates, which have been a source of frustration for residents. The new state law allowing direct and indirect potable reuse of treated wastewater, signed by Governor Laura Kelly, is a significant step forward, but the city must still navigate the regulatory landscape and secure the necessary funding.
Despite the challenges, the project is seen as a legacy initiative by the council members. Council member Dalton Glasscock expresses excitement about the potential impact, stating, 'I think this could be one of the longest legacy items that anyone from this bench could help be a part of.' The comparison to The Big Ditch, a flood control project, underscores the project's potential to shape the city's future.
In conclusion, Wichita's journey from toilet to tap is a complex and ambitious endeavor, one that could shape the city's water security and public perception. The success of this project will depend on effective education, regulatory compliance, and financial management. As the city embarks on this journey, it will be a test of innovation, resilience, and the collective will of the community to secure a sustainable water future.
