By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

As of  July 28, rainfall records for Hays indicate the city is 0.66 of an inch of precipitation above normal for the year.

Hays city commissioners get an update of the city’s water well levels each Monday.  According to commissioner Ron Mellick, the Smoky Hill water wells near Schoenchen have a “good recharge”:

“The levels of our Smoky Hill water wells near Schoenchen haven’t been this good since June 2011,” Mellick said.

“But the Big Creek wells in Hays are still on the lower end of normal operation. They haven’t gained as much, but they also don’t go down as fast (as the Smoky wells.)”

This is the fourth year of drought in western Kansas.

Official precipitation records from the K-State Agricultural Research Center from January 2011 through July 28 show Hays is still 12.66 inches below normal precipitation.

Although Hays recently downgraded from a Water Warning to a Water Watch, Mellick reminded residents it’s still important to “use water efficiently.”