The Emporia Public Works Department has several projects coming down the line to improve water distribution across the Emporia community.
The list of work begins with installing a new 24-inch line that will run from the Emporia Water Treatment Plant across Interstate 35 to 12th Ave. and Prairie Street. Public Works Director Dean Grant tells KVOE News the line will absorb some of the workload currently placed on two existing lines in the area.
He adds the need for a project such as this has been elevated through several major water line breaks in recent years.
A timeline for when that project will begin has not yet been announced, however, Grant says it should go out to bid within the next few weeks. He anticipates it will take roughly 12 months to complete weather permitting.
The project is being funded through a $15 million loan from KDHE which Emporia City Commissioners approved during their regular action meeting last week.
The loan will be offset by upcoming water rate increases of $2.24 per month for residents using 5,000 gallons of water and $31.13 for commercial businesses using 70,000 gallons.
Those increases will take effect Apr. 1 with a second increase of $1.91 for residential customers and $19.62 for commercial businesses going into effect Jan. 1 of 2024.
