As a water warning continues for most Chase County residents, Strong City Water Operator Matt Markley tells KVOE News the goal is to reduce water use by 10 percent overall and by 20 percent from recent peak use levels.
Markley says things may not improve until the area gets significant rainfall and river levels return to something approaching normal depths.
Last Friday, Public Wholesale Water District 26 has enacted a water warning, involving Cottonwood Falls, Strong City and Chase County Rural Water District 1.
Markley says a well’s electrical issues Thursday were handled quickly on a temporary basis, but the water warning was issued for several reasons, including prior large water leaks, persistent drought — most of Chase County is now in extreme drought, according to the US Drought Monitor — and lengthy periods of heat including this week.
There are several steps underway now for Chase County water customers, but the main ones are as follows:
*There is an odd/even lawn watering system based on street addresses.
*Outdoor water use is restricted to before 10 am or after 9 pm, including lawn watering and car washing. Golf courses have to water tees and greens only after sunset, while swimming pool refills will be limited to one day a week after sunset.
Water use is still being tracked daily.
