By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Five families living just outside the Hays city limits east of 27th and Canterbury will soon have access to city water.

Because of failing private water wells, they requested to become city customers and will pay $62,328 for extension of water service on east 27th.

“They’re still experiencing declining water levels,” Director of Water Resources Jeff Crispin told city commissioners Thursday night.

The commission approved the sole bid of $54,284 for the project from M&D of Hays.

Cost to each of the five property owners for the three-inch water line is $12,465.60, which includes design/engineering and easements. Crispin said the city has already received the five payments and pre-annexation agreements have been signed.

The water line extension will connect at the south end to an existing dead end line at NCK Tech, 2205 Wheatland Ave.

As a bonus, the water quality at the college will improve.

“We haven’t had any issues with water quality at NCK Tech,” Crispin said. “But connecting the line as part of this project will allow us to do a loop. The service that goes north into the school is a line that stops right there, a dead end line. You always want the water to be looped. That way the water is continuously flowing through that area, providing improved water quality.”

The city has to occasionally flush the dead end line to ensure the sewer doesn’t become stagnant, said Toby Dougherty, city manager. “That’s resulted in wasted water,” he added.