City of Wichita Aquifer Storage & Recovery Project

The City of Wichita’s Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) project diverts water from the Little Arkansas River when the river flows are high, treats it to drinking water standards and injects the processed water into the Equus Beds aquifer. By doing this, the City accumulates recharge credits with the Kansas Department of Agriculture allowing it to withdraw this additional water from the Equus Beds aquifer when needed. The ability to establish and utilize these credits is critical to ensuring the City can meet the demand during an extended drought.

What's New

Public Hearing Process

The formal hearing to address the City of Wichita's proposed modifications to the ASR Project Permit has concluded, and the Chief Engineer has declined to accept the request. Click here to find out more about the hearing proceedings.

ASR Proposal Benefits

Public Hearing Process

Permit changes are being proposed to provide operating flexibility that is needed to maintain the aquifer as high as possible – like the levels are now.

Wichita's Permit Change Effort

ASR provides two benefits – drought resiliency and water quality protection.

ASR Permit Change Proposal

Wichita's Permit Change Effort

The City of Wichita has the state’s only active Artificial Storage and Recovery project, developed a

The City of Wichita has the state’s only active Aquifer Storage and Recovery project, developed and approved in two phases.

On June 28, 2018 a public informational meeting regarding the proposed changes was held at the Halstead High School Auditorium.

A public comment hearing on Wichita's proposed modifications to Phase II of its ASR project was held on December 11, 2018 (transcript).

Pursuant to a Notice of Hearing issued in this matter by the Presiding Officer, the rescheduled public hearing in this matter commenced on December 10-12, 2019.

The public and all interested parties were invited to submit oral comments on December 13, 2019, and may submit written testimony. Please see the link below for instructions.

Pursuant to a Notice of Continuation of Hearing, the formal phase of the administrative hearing that began in December 2019, continued on February 10-12 and March 2-6, 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional hearing was held partially in person and partially virtually. In-person proceedings were not open to the public; the public was able to view the hearing using Zoom or YouTube on February 3-5 and February 19, 2021.

The Chief Engineer has posted the Order Regarding the City of Wichita's Proposed Modification of the ASR Project Phase II Permits, declining to accept the request.

Public Hearing Update