By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A water emergency back in 1991, when the wells ran dry, forced the city of Hays to begin a water conservation program.

Various local ordinances were implemented between 1992 and 1994 that determined allotments of water, water use restrictions and violation penalties as well as the implementation of low water use building codes.

Since then, according to the city’s new water conservation specialist Jason Riegel, Hays has invested money in several projects to reduce the need for new water supplies:

Riegel added that years of water line replacement projects have resulted in few water main breaks and leaks reaching the ground surface.