WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) and U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) today lauded House passage of the Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Act of 2005 (S. 1025), a bill Sen. Roberts and Rep. Tiahrt have guided through the legislative process for more than a year. The Equus Beds recharge project will help provide residents, irrigators and businesses in South-central Kansas with clean, safe water for decades.

The bill authorizes $30 million in federal funding to help defray costs to local residents for the construction of the recharge infrastructure. Nearly 500,000 people will benefit from the water recharge project in the greater Wichita area.

“I am pleased to see the Congress has acted to ensure that there is plenty of water to secure the economic future of Wichita-area citizens and businesses through at least 2050,” Roberts said.

“The Equus Beds recharge project is a cost-efficient, environmentally beneficial plan to help ensure residents in South-central Kansas have access to a clean and plentiful water supply,” said Tiahrt. “Now that Congress has authorized federal dollars, we look forward to working with the City of Wichita on making the full-scale project a reality.”

Since the 1950’s, water levels in the aquifer have dropped 40 feet because water rights and pumpage exceed the aquifer’s natural recharge rate of six inches per year. Because of this over-usage, saltwater from the southwest and oilfield brine from the northwest are threatening to pollute the aquifer. Recharging the aquifer will create a natural barrier keeping contaminants from entering the water supply.

If the Equus Beds aquifer is not replenished, the maximum chloride levels will eventually exceed what is permitted for agricultural and municipal usage.

The Recharge Project involves taking excess flood water from the Little Arkansas River, treating it and depositing that water into the underground aquifer through water supply wells.

“This project will not only meet water-supply needs for residents in Wichita and surrounding counties but it will also reduce pumping costs for farmers who rely on the Equus Beds for irrigation,” said Tiahrt. “I am pleased to have worked with Sen. Roberts on this important water bill that will help prepare our state for the future.”

September 20, 2006
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Attachment: FAQs on the Equus Beds Groundwater Recharge Project

The Equus Beds Recharge Project
FAQs on the Equus Beds Groundwater Recharge Project
September 2006

What is the Equus Beds Aquifer?
The Equus Beds Aquifer refers to the body of water beneath portions of Sedgwick, Harvey, McPherson and Reno counties within the boundaries of Groundwater Management District No. 2. The aquifer lies under 900,000 acres and annual withdrawals from the aquifer average 157,000 acre feet. Fifty-five percent of the water is used for irrigation, 39 percent is used for municipal needs (Wichita, Halstead, Newton, Hutchinson, McPherson, Valley Center), and six percent is used by industry.

What is the Equus Beds Recharge Project?
The project involves taking excess flood water from the Little Arkansas River (called above base flow) and depositing that water into the underground aquifer through water supply wells.

Why is the project important?
Nearly 500,000 people in the Wichita area depend on the Equus Beds and Cheney Lake for their water needs. Since the 1950’s, water levels in the aquifer have dropped 40 feet because water rights and pumpage exceed the aquifer’s natural recharge rate of six inches per year. Because of this over usage, saltwater from the southwest and oilfield brine from the northwest are threatening the aquifer. If the aquifer is not replenished, the maximum chloride levels will eventually exceed what is permitted for agricultural and municipal usage.

Who will benefit?
The City believes that this is a win-win project for everyone. The City benefits because it can store water in the aquifer in order to meet its water supply needs. The City and the residents in the wellfield will both benefit from the reduction in the risk of salt-water contamination that could make the water unsuitable as a water supply for domestic or municipal water uses. The residents will also benefit from the higher water levels in the aquifer, which will reduce pumping costs for irrigation. The Little Arkansas River will also benefit, because base flows in the river will improve as water levels in the aquifer rise.

What phase is the project currently in?
The City of Wichita initiated Phase I of the recharge project in 2001. As of September 2006, this phase has reached substantial completion.

What is the project’s estimated cost?
A surface water component was recently added, which increased the cost of Phase I to $27 million. The total estimated cost of the recharge project is $137 million.

How long will the recharge of the aquifer take?
An estimated 10 to 15 years.

What federal funds has the project already received?
In FY2000, $423,000 was secured by Rep. Tiahrt (through the Bureau of Reclamation) for a demonstration project conducted by the City of Wichita. The demonstration project currently remains fully operational, capturing flood flows from the Little Arkansas River. The pilot project successfully demonstrated that adequate flow exists in the Little Arkansas River to allow diversion of up to 150 million gallons per day during above base flow. The demonstration project also provided the City with data on how best to capture water and how water quality would be affected.

What is the Legislative history of the authorization bill?
The House Committee on Resources held a hearing on Equus Beds authorization (H.R. 1327) July 8, 2004. H.R. 1327 was then bundled with other water-related bills and passed the House as H.R. 540 May 16, 2005. The Senate passed Equus Beds authorization (S. 1025) December 16, 2005. The House passed S. 1025 September 20, 2006.