Hays families are invited to take part in a survey designed offer guidance regarding how water is used in local homes.
The survey, which can be viewed HERE, is designed to educate and inform about water use and offer simple ways to conserve water.
After completing the survey, participants totals will be added up, ranking them from “water wise” to “have potential.”
Those taking the survey will be entered to win a free low-flow toilet, including installation costs, according to Stacie Minson, Kansas State University Watershed Specialist.
Paper copies of the survey can be picked up at Hays City Hall.
Green plumbing is up for discussion at Thursday’s Hays City Commission work session.
According to Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, city staff is recommending the adoption of new plumbing standards designed to conserve water, requiring all fixtures in new construction and remodels to be at least 20 percent more efficient than federal standards:
“In reviewing usage records, it was found that newer properties have much higher water usage than existing properties. Staff believes this is primarily driven by larger and more water-needy landscaping than the average property in town,” according to a memo to commissioners by city staff. “At the same time, there is no code to ensure that inside uses of water are as efficient as they can be.”
The city brought the proposed changes to three meetings of the Building and Trade Board for discussion, which offered revisions from a contractor standpoint.
In the midst of a water shortage, the staff said “this is one of the most important, cheapest and easiest changes the city can make for long-term water security for the city of Hays.”
The city recently declared a Stage 2 water warning, which will tighten restrictions on outside watering and block new connections to the potable water system for irrigation purposes.
Most of the water-conserving measures are considered “cost-neutral” for builders, although improvements for irrigations systems — including sensors, controller and spray head requirements — would cost approximately $500 more per system.
City commissioners will discuss the regulation changes for placement on a future regular session agenda.
The city of Hays will have a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. March 12 to discuss a series of water issues.
A continuing drought, Thursday’s declaration of a Stage 2 water warning and the development of a pipeline to deliver water to the Hays area will be among the topics.
The town hall will be at Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
In the midst of a severe and unrelenting drought, the Hays City Commission approved a Stage 2 water warning declaration at its meeting Thursday night. The warning means the city will “reduce water to just enough to keep the roots of the grass alive on all parks and ball fields that utilize potable water.”
Outdoor water use will be prohibited from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and connections to the potable water system for irrigation also will be barred.
The move implements the second-tier fee for heavy water users, increasing the rate from $7.42 to $10.30 per 750 gallons. The fee will effect March water usage.
“Most people shouldn’t be affected by that one at all,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty, adding the city will ramp up its efforts to educate the community on conservation and regulations.
The city decided to move to water warning early due to the upcoming spring planting season.
“Knowing that a lot of people plan their lawns and gardens now, I would hate to see somebody plan a garden or a lawn replacement program and then penalize them later from a monetary standpoint through the conservation tier fee,” Dougherty said. “This gives people the opportunity to plan or not to plan knowing they’re going to pay more for that water usage outdoors.”
The drought is weighing heavy on the minds of city officials.
The next step in the city’s water conservation plan is a Stage 3 water emergency, which would implement even stricter conservation rules including a complete ban on outdoor watering and closure of municipal swimming pools.
Dougherty said the move will help “slow the rate of decline,” calling the move to Stage 2 pre-emptive.
City officials estimated that, at the current rate of decline, the city would have reached the need for a water warning by mid-summer 2014, with supplies requiring a Stage 3 water emergency in 2015.
The city of Hays plans to hold a town hall meeting soon to discuss water issues and the possibility of having to declare a Water Warning, which would severely limit outdoor water use.
Commissioner Eber Phelps says it’s a “pre-emptive move as opposed to a reactionary situation, which could be unpleasant for residents who’ve already purchased plants and lawn seed for spring planting:”
Phelps and Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty recently attended the 2014 Land and Water Summit in Albuquerque, N.M. Phelps expects Hays to take a closer look at several ideas including more education about xeriscaping and use of gray water irrigation.
ELLIS — In a special meeting Monday night, Ellis City Council members discussed the city’s desire to explore options for an additional water source.
The feasibility study to determine the viability of partnering with Trego County Rural Water District will be completed in 30 to 45 days.
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty is scheduled to address the council at its March 17 meeting about Hays’ plan to develop the R9 Ranch in Edwards County as a long-term water source, and geologist Robert Vincent will be asked to attend a future council meeting. The board will also talk about the future of the city’s one-cent sales tax, set to expire in 2016, and whether it should be extended to help pay for water projects.
The unofficial minutes, in draft form, of the special meeting follow.
• • •
DRAFT COPY NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY COUNCIL
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING February 24, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Council President Jolene Niernberger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Council members John Walz, Loran Gottschalk, and Terry Redetzke. Also present were City Clerk Amy Burton and Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman. Mayor Lyle Johnston and Council member Jeff Wolf were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Ryan Augustine, John LaShell, Sean Simmons, Dave McDaniel, Gayla Wichman, Gary Luea, and Ronald Johnson.
PURPOSE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Council President Jolene Niernberger stated the purpose of the special meeting was to approve the USDA annual reports, to further consider the City’s website, and to discuss water exploration.
Water: Financial
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the annual financial reports as required by the United States Department of Agriculture. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Terry Redetzke seconded a motion to approve the 2013 USDA Financial Reports as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
General Government: Special Project
Ryan Augustine discussed with Council the need to make the City’s website more user friendly and provide more visual appeal. The current website provides good information, but it is hard to navigate through the site. Sean Simmons visited with Council on the various types of websites and the need to determine the goal of the site. It is important to brainstorm what types of information each department of the City desires to include on the site. Gayla Wichman added the City has three types of users to consider – current residents, potential residents, and visitors – and the site should provide information relevant to each of these users. The Council also discussed how social media could enhance the City’s website and provide an outlet to quickly release information to the public. City Clerk Amy Burton will send out a memo to the Department Heads asking for their “wish list” for the website and compile the results.
Capital Improvement: Water Exploration
Council discussed the City’s desire to explore for an additional water source. The feasibility study to determine the viability of partnering with Trego County Rural Water District will be completed in 30-45 days. Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty plans to visit with Council at the March 17th regular meeting about Hays’ plan to explore south central Kansas for water. Council discussed whether to partner with a neighboring community or to explore for the City’s own water source. It was the consensus of Council to have Public Works Director Alan Scheurman contact geologist Robert Vincent to come to a Council meeting and discuss the City’s next step in the exploration process. Council member John Walz discussed the City’s one cent sales tax that expires in 2016. Council needs to consider if the additional sales tax should be continued for additional funding for water exploration.
General Government: Meeting
The Council will not have a quorum for the March 3, 2014 regular meeting. It was decided to move the meeting to March 5, 2014 at the regular time.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Loran Gottschalk moved to adjourn the meeting. Council member Terry Redetzke seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Water continues to be a primary topic among Hays city officials. The Hays City Commission will discuss ramping up its water-conservation efforts at meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.
In the midst of a persistent drought that shows no signs of relenting, commissioners will consider moving the city from a Stage 1 “watch” to a Stage 2 “warning,” a move that would kick off several changes in water-use policy.
If the elevated response is approved:
• Outdoor water use, including lawn watering and car washing, will be limited to 9 p.m. to 10 a.m.
• Newly seeded lawn permits would be issued for warm-season grasses only, and only during designated planting times.
• The city no longer would approve connections or upsizing for irrigation purposes.
• The city will enact its drought-response second-tier conservation rate. High-end water users would see their rate increase from $7.42 to $10.30.
• No permits will be issued for benefit car washes, house washing or the washing of hard surfaces.
• No additional new connections to potable water will be issued outside of city limits.
Upgrading the water-conservation status this early in the year will allow residents time to adjust plans for gardens and lawns for the upcoming growing season.
The city of Hays has been in a water “watch” since August 2012.
The next, and most severe, stage of the drought response would be a Stage 3 water “emergency,” which would heighten restrictions and lead to closure of municipal pools, a complete ban on outdoor watering, a prohibition on filling private swimming pools and a lockout on irrigation meters.
At the current rate of depletion, the city has the potential of reaching the need for a water “emergency” as soon as 2015, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty’s memo to commissioners.
The city recently adopted a resolution declaring the intent to develop a new water resource with the construction of a pipeline to Edwards County, south of Hays. Water from the R9 Ranch, however, is a long-term solution, and Dougherty has said the regulatory approval process alone could take between five and 15 years.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the public water supply located in the city of La Harpe in Allen County.
LaHarpe is just east of Iola on U.S. 54.
The city water supply experienced a loss of pressure in the water system due to planned system maintenance. When such a loss of pressure occurs, it is possible for contaminants to enter the system. Chlorine residuals may also drop to levels that are inadequate to protect against bacterial contamination.
Effective immediately, customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure. Regardless of whether the supplier or the system announces the boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories.
DONIPHAN COUNTY — Ken McCauley parked his Chevy pickup in the middle of a dirt road overlooking some of the world’s best corn growing acreage.
He examined a creek bed that was flanked by a narrow strip of woods and sloping hills covered with stubble from last year’s crop.
Ken McCauley, a Doniphan County farmer, said he doesn’t see the sense in building a 350 mile canal or aqueduct to carry water from the Missouri River to western Kansas so that farmers there can continue to irrigate corn. Photo by Trevor Graff, KHI.
McCauley said his family has farmed here six generations. The 4,600-acre operation includes corn and soybean production.
“They picked a good place to stop,” McCauley said of his ancestors.
But it wasn’t family history or 220 bushels-per-acre corn that was the hot topic this particular day on this particular piece of Missouri River bottomland.
“I’ve said since I was a kid that we’d be fighting over water,” McCauley said. “When you start talking about an aqueduct, open water going across the state it’s enough to get everybody riled up in a hurry.”
Kansas officials are studying the possibility of an aqueduct, pipeline or canal that would carry water — perhaps across McCauley’s land — from the Missouri River at White Cloud to Ness County, 360 miles to the southwest.
McCauley’s farm is closer to St. Louis or Cedar Rapids, Iowa, than it is to Ness City.
Pumping uphill
The audacious project, if realized, would surpass in distance and cost the 336-mile Central Arizona Project, which is still considered the most expensive water transfer system ever built in the United States.
The Arizona project — started in 1973 — took 20 years and $4 billion to construct. It carries 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year from the Colorado River to Tucson and irrigates about 1 million acres of farmland. The federal government paid for it.
An earlier U.S. Corps of Engineers study looking at the feasibility of tapping the Missouri River to water western Kansas estimated it would cost $4.4 billion to build a system and about $475 million a year to operate it. Those were 1982 estimates.
McCauley said he and others he knows consider the idea of moving massive quantities of water uphill across the state a bad one and he doesn’t understand why western Kansas farmers can’t find better solutions to their water problems.
But the part of Kansas where McCauley lives gets about 35 inches of rainfall a year, enough most years to grow corn without irrigation.
In Ness County, on the High Plains, average annual rainfall is 22 inches and that diminishes as you move west.
Irrigation from the Ogallala Aquifer is what has sustained corn and other water-gulping crops in western Kansas and other portions of the Great Plains for more than 60 years — but the end is in sight for what some have called “water mining.”
‘Some kind of changes’
“We’re looking at about 50 years to make some kind of changes in the way agriculture is done out there,” said Prof. James Sherow, an environmental historian at Kansas State University who wrote a 1990 book about the history of water use in the Arkansas River Valley.
“In other words, thinking about recapitalization and what new forms of agriculture need to take the place of this current one once the water situation no longer supports what’s going on today.”
Since the invention of center-pivot irrigation in the late 1940s, Kansas farmers have been drawing water from the aquifer far more rapidly than it is naturally recharged.
In some areas, the Ogallala, which is part of the larger High Plains Aquifer, can regain four to six inches of water a year. But that natural recharging falls well short of replacing what is being siphoned out of the ancient underground reservoir.
From 1996 to 2012, the average level of the aquifer in Kansas dropped 14 feet, according to the Kansas Geological Survey — and average of 9.33 inches per year. It dropped more than 51 inches in 2012 alone.
Scientists project that it would take more than 100,000 years to recharge some parts of the Ogallala that for practical purposes already have been tapped out.
Without the bounty of the Ogallala, western Kansas fields would revert to producing the relatively paltry yields of dry land farming and the natural aridity that prompted 19th century geographers to label it part of the Great American Desert — hence the strong interest in keeping the spigot on.
Getting past the ‘threshold of rejection’
Mark Rude, executive director of Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 3, is a chief spokesman for the interests trying to revive the Missouri water transfer proposal.
GMD No. 3 and the Kansas Water Office have agreed to foot half the cost of a fresh, $300,000 feasibility study. The U.S. Corps of Engineers has agreed to pay the other half.
The report, expected to be complete by early 2015, would look at several things overlooked in the Corps’ original 1982 report, including the potential costs of litigation with Missouri and other states.
“It’s a brand new concept for some, just how valuable water is and what we can do with it in the western part of the state where it’s not so common,” Rude said. “So people have to think about it a while. It’s almost trying to get past that threshold of rejection and getting people to keep their minds open.
“It’s what the aqueduct can do for all those areas along the way that’s really the story. It’s not just Missouri water to western Kansas, it’s really an infrastructure for the whole state,” he said.
Rude said the canal or aqueduct could carry water to every stream along its course with potential to also provide water for Wichita and southeast Kansas. And, of course, once the Missouri’s flow reaches a major destination reservoir in Ness County, additional infrastructure could carry the vital liquid farther into southwest Kansas.
Others eye the Missouri
GMD No. 3 isn’t the only western entity with a covetous eye on the Missouri River.
The U.S. Department of the Interior in 2012 released a study of future water needs in the Colorado River Basin, which includes two Mexican and seven U.S. states, and concluded there wouldn’t be enough.
One of the proposed solutions was a pipeline from the Missouri River to help supply the Colorado Front Range, including Denver, which happens to be the largest city in the Missouri River Basin
But given the history of water struggles in the western U.S., no one can imagine major diversions from the Missouri could occur without a fight.
Shortly after the Kansas aqueduct idea was revived for discussion, Gov. Jay Nixon of Missouri responded with threats of litigation.
Kansas water officials say they haven’t started talking about it with their counterparts in Missouri or the several other states that bank North America’s longest stream.
“We haven’t had an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with our downstream neighbors,” said Tracy Streeter, director of the Kansas Water Office. “I’d anticipate that their first move would be negative. I’d like to think that we could explain what we’re talking about and maybe find some benefit.”
‘Long shot’
The Kansas Rural Center — which promotes sustainable, small-scale farming — is among those already raising questions about the idea.
Most of the crops grown in western Kansas are used to fatten livestock, and irrigating feed grains with Missouri River water would compound already existing problems ranging from bad eating habits to climate change, according to Paul Johnson, a member of the center’s board of directors.
“Is growing feed grains on irrigated acres the best use of this precious water,” Johnson wrote in the center’s recent newsletter. “Is it best for a healthier diet?
The updated aqueduct study is occurring against the backdrop of broader discussions underway across the state and nation regarding climate change and the adequacy of Kansas and U.S. water resources in the years and decades to come.
Gov. Sam Brownback, with an eye on the Ogallala’s predicted depletion and the silt that is filling in the large reservoirs that help keep water flowing in the eastern part of the state, has called for a new 50-year water plan.
Discussions about the plan have been underway across the state among various water officials and other experts. The final version of it is scheduled for release in November.
Federal officials are working on a national water census, after concluding they lacked enough up-to-date information about how much water there is and how it is used to be ready for the challenges expected from the 21st century.
Meanwhile, some see in the aqueduct plan an example of the desperation that could become more common as the demands for water, particularly in the nation’s southwest, continue to outpace supply.
“To me (the aqueduct proposal) is a desperation measure. I can’t even imagine the costs of that kind of system.” K-State’s Sherow said.
“The costs will be staggering,” Streeter of the Kansas Water Office said, “and I’ll venture to say it’s a long shot. I think even the staunchest of advocates know it’s a long shot.”
Xeriscaping — it’s a word that is being thrown around quite often these days with the continuing drought and water shortage issues facing the area. With conversations I have been a part of recently, and in listening to the conversations of others, it is obvious that this word – xeriscaping – or the concept of it can be a source of confusion in some instances.
Holly Dickman is Ellis County Horticulture Extension Agent.
I will try my best to explain what xeriscaping truly means and hopefully eliminate some of the confusion.
Xeriscaping is a word originally coined by the Denver Water Department several decades ago to describe landscaping with water conservation as a major objective. The word is derived from the Greek “xeros” meaning dry, and landscaping – thus, xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is not a specific “look” or a particular group of plants; it is actually a combination of seven gardening principles that maximizes water efficiency while creating an attractive landscape at the same time. Here are the steps required to create a true xeriscape:
Step #1: Planning and Design
Planning is essential in creating a sustainable, attractive xeriscape. Take into consideration site characteristics that affect water use (i.e. slopes, exposures, micro-climates) and then design the area with these things in mind. Put it on paper. A scale drawing or diagram can go a long way in helping you to visualize what your xeriscape might look like. Group plants according to water use and take into account mature plant size.
Step #2: Soil Preparation
“Take care of the roots and the tops will grow themselves”…this is a phrase that has been used to describe soil’s importance in plant growth. A healthy soil will result in healthier root systems which, in turn, create a more drought tolerant landscape. Amending entire garden beds (not just planting holes) with organic matter such as compost can help loosen heavy, clay soils allowing moisture and nutrients to infiltrate more readily to the roots vs. running off. On the other hand, adding organic matter to sandy soils will help increase the soil’s water holding capacity vs. water loss due to leaching below the root zone.
Step #3: Efficient Irrigation
Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep, more drought tolerant roots. Only water when absolutely necessary! Turfgrass should be watered to a depth of at least 6-8” while flowers and gardens should be watered to a depth of at least 8-12 inches. Trees and shrubs need to be watered to a depth of 12-18 inches as that is where the bulk of their roots are located. Watering much deeper than these depths is a waste of water. Check watering depth by using a probe of some sort (i.e. long screwdriver, piece of rebar, strong wire, etc.). When the probe hits resistance you have likely hit dry soil and this is the depth to which the moisture has reached.
Drip or sub-surface irrigation is the most efficient method as it places the water exactly where you need it. If watering with sprinkler systems or by hand, irrigate early in the morning to take advantage of lower wind speeds (hopefully), less evaporation, and higher humidity levels. Watering at this time of day also allows plant leaves to dry off quickly, lessening the threat of potential disease problems.
Step #4: Mulch
The need for supplemental irrigation is reduced when organic mulches are properly applied around plants. Examples of organic mulches include wood chips, cedar mulch, straw, leaves, cottonseed hulls, etc. These types of mulches decrease soil temperatures in the heat of summer while limiting evaporation from the soil surface. Organic mulch also discourages weed growth and breaks down over time helping to improve the condition of the soil (See Step #2). Generally, a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch is ideal in most situations.
Inorganic mulches such as gravel are generally not recommended for use around plants as they can create a hotter, harsher environment for plant roots. Organic mulches are preferred for use around plants in our area.
Step #5: Right Plant, Right Place – Plant zones
An extremely important step of xeriscaping is to plant the right plant in the right place. Plants vary in the amount of moisture they require so it is critical to know what those requirements are. Additionally, different areas of the yard may receive different amounts of moisture, sunlight, and wind. Take this into consideration when choosing plants for the xeriscape. Group or zone plants with similar water requirements together.
For example, group a crabapple tree with shrub roses in a planting bed vs. planting the trees and shrubs sporadically throughout a turfgrass area. Since trees and shrubs need to be watered differently than turf, planting them in separate zones will allow for more efficient watering and healthier plants.
Select low-water-use or drought-tolerant plants if possible. Remember all plants require additional moisture to get established. Drought tolerant does not mean “plant it and forget it.”
Step #6: Practical Turf Areas
Cool-season turfgrass such as Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass typically require the most water and maintenance in the landscape. Limit cool-season turf areas. Consider using mulches, groundcovers, ornamental or native grasses, shrub beds, decks or patios instead. Avoid odd shaped or narrow strips of turfgrass as these can be difficult to irrigate and may result in wasted water.
If you have full sun, consider planting warm-season turfgrasses such as Buffalo and Bermudagrass. These warm-season grasses are well suited to our area and, once established, will require very little supplemental irrigation (if any) in comparison to the cool-season grasses.
Keep areas designated to turfgrass practical for your use. Do you really need that vast expanse of green grass in the front yard?
Step #7: Proper Maintenance
While xeric landscapes can be low maintenance, they will still require some degree of care throughout the year. At appropriate times, proper pruning, mowing, weeding, fertilizing, watering, and insect/disease control are important to maintain the health of your xeriscape.
Overall, these seven steps create a true xeriscape. As you can see, it is not just about rocks! Reducing outdoor water use does not have to mean replacing lawns and trees with plastic and gravel, or turning flower gardens into cactus gardens. Xeriscaping is not Zero-scaping! Water conserving landscapes, as I prefer to call them, can look just as beautiful – if not more so – than water wasting ones.
For more information on water conserving landscapes or if you have questions regarding water conservation in general please contact the Ellis County Extension Office at (785) 628-9430 or check out our website, www.ellis.ksu.edu, for more information. You can also find us on Facebook under K-State Research and Extension – Ellis County.
Holly Dickman is Ellis County Horticulture Extension Agent.
LAWRENCE – A lively and timely discussion of water-related topics that affect Kansas, the Great Plains and the West is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Lied Center Pavilion at the University of Kansas.
“Water Issues in the West: Regional Perspectives on Interstate Law and Policy” is sponsored by the KU Water Research Planning Committee, a group of faculty and staff working to increase collaborative science and policy research on water. The program is free and open to the public, and an RSVP is requested by Wednesday by emailing [email protected].
Featured speakers will be Mike Hayden, former governor of Kansas and now executive director of the Missouri River Association of States and Tribes, and Burke Griggs, consulting professor for the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University.
“KU is in position to become nationally recognized in multidisciplinary research on the broad issues surrounding water,” said Jeffrey S. Vitter, provost and executive vice chancellor. “A workshop last fall identified more than 150 KU researchers with an interest and expertise in some facet of water. This spring, we continue to host a series of events designed to build a water research community at KU, which will benefit students at all levels and engage with both private and public partners.”
Brad Loveless, director of biology and conservation programs at Westar Energy and a member of the Kansas Water Authority, will serve as moderator for the program. A reception will follow.
TOPEKA — Lawmakers from the Health and Human Services committee heard lengthy testimony from opposing sides Wednesday about House Bill 2372 dealing with fluoride and its effect on water in Kansas.
If passed, the bill would require all Kansas municipalities that fluoridate their water to “notify the consumers of that treated water, that the latest science confirms that ingested fluoride lowers the I.Q. in children.”
Some of the language in the bill discussed that more research would need to be made on the exact effects of fluoride, but there’s a possibility for harm to important organs in the human body and the lower of IQ.
Michael Connett, a lawyer, led bill proponents by discussing the difficulties with fluoride in water.
“As an initial point, infants do not need to receive fluoride,” he said.
Dr. Yolanda Whyte, testified on the basis of protecting pediatric care and pregnancy dealing with fluoride and children. Connett went on to agree with these
“They started doing studies and low and behold the children getting more fluoride have lower IQs,” Connett said.
The two cited a study done by Anna Choi of Harvard University that said fluoride used in China and Iran affected IQ. No such research has been done in the United States.
“The problem with that approach is the absence of evidence does not equal the evidence of safety,” Connett said.
The committee members asked several questions of the proponents especially since there has not been conclusive fluoride testing in the United States.
“I hope you understand our concern about creating a bill or creating a requirement based off inconclusive science, but we’ve also made laws based off of inconclusive science,” Rep. John Wilson, D-Lawrence, said.
Rep. Leslie Osterman, R-Wichita, asked how many other states are looking at an anti-fluoride bill.
Connett said that Kansas would be the first state to pass this kind of legislation.
After hearing from the proponents for the bill, a long list of opponents began their testimony.
One of the opponents was Dr. John Neuberger, professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He represented the Kansas Public Health Association, which “promotes and improves the population health in Kansas.”
He said many parts of the Harvard study were not conclusive. He said Choi’s results were preliminary in nature and should not be used for setting drinking water policy in the United States.
Greg Hill testified on behalf of the Kansas Dental Association that every dollar invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in dental costs.
There were several other written and oral opposition testimonies from the Kansas Action for Children, Oral Health of Kansas, the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The session closed without a vote from the committee.
Hays City Commissioner Eber Phelps called a resolution to build a water pipeline from Hays to Edwards County a “historic moment” when a motion passed at Thursday’s city commission meeting.
The resolution of intent allows city staff to take the first official step in the long process of developing the R9 Ranch south of Hays as a future water source for the city.
“This is our go-ahead to begin the regulatory process. There are a lot of filings that have to take place with the Division of Water Resources before we can even think about the project and actually bringing the water up from the ranch,” said city manager Toby Dougherty. “So (passing the motion) sets the wheels in motion.”
Cost estimates for the project are approximately $65 million, and Dougherty has said the regulatory approval process could take between five and 15 years. A portion of the funding likely already is available, the result of special sales tax dedicated to fund water projects has been collected since 1992. Through the years, a reserve of approximately $27 million has been built up in the water project fund.
“On the big-picture scale, the city of Hays has been talking about water for 60 years now or longer and has identified many possible options,” he said. “R9 Ranch appears the most viable option when it comes to providing a long-term water source for Hays.
Commissioner Ron Mellick agreed.
“We have looked high and low, and (R9 Ranch) seems to be the only long-term feasible project we can do as far as supplying water for the city of Hays in the future — hopefully for 50-plus years,” he said.
Dougherty said city staff have run cost estimates on the $65 million project — and believe the project is affordable due to the water sales tax put in place in 1992 to fund water projects.
