Wichita City Council OKs water reuse pilot to test advanced purification

Wichita City Council voted 7-0 on July 7, 2026, approving a contract amendment and revised funding to advance the city’s Water Reuse Alternatives Study into a small-scale pilot.

The pilot is designed to test advanced purification of treated wastewater as a potential future direct and/or indirect potable reuse</strong option. City leaders say the goal is to build drought-resilient water supply options over the long run.

What Council approved

According to KWCH and city materials, the council action approves Contract Amendment No. 1 with CDM Smith and moves forward with initiation of the pilot project. KWCH reports an original contract amount of $1,188,095, with the amendment adding $742,253 for a total contract of $1,930,348.

KWCH also reports the city estimates the cost to construct and operate the small-scale pilot plant at $7 million, for a total estimated project cost of $8,930,348. City documents say the pilot could be funded through future revenue bonds or water utility cash reserves.

What the pilot is meant to test (and what it isn’t)

The city’s water reuse fact sheet describes the first step as building a small-scale pilot facility intended to mimic full-scale infrastructure and generate monitoring/performance data.

Here’s the key limitation for residents: the fact sheet says the pilot-produced, purified water will be continuously tested and monitored and will meet federal and state drinking-water standards during testing—but it will not be introduced into the public drinking-water supply while the pilot is underway.

Why Wichita is pursuing potable reuse planning

Wichita’s Water Reuse Master Plan frames the work as part of creating new, reliable water supplies to provide resilience during drought conditions. City materials also point to drought impacts in 2024 that lowered water levels at Cheney Reservoir and the Equus aquifer bed.

Next steps and the late-2027 expectation

KWCH reports city staff outlined next steps that include working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on pilot plan approval, applying for potential U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI grant funding, and continuing coordination with the Kansas Division of Water Resources on downstream water rights—along with ongoing public engagement.

City staff also told KWCH the small-scale potable water reuse plant should be up and running by late 2027. But even after that, a pilot is not the same thing as a finalized decision to change how drinking water is produced—additional regulatory reviews and permitting would come before any reuse beyond the test phase.

What residents should watch next

Look for updates as the city moves from this council action into the next stage: KDHE pilot plan approval, any draft permits/requirements tied to the pilot, grant/funding announcements, and opportunities for public input before any future potable reuse decisions are made.

Sources

• Wichita City Council final agenda (July 7, 2026) — Water Reuse Alternatives Study contract amendment item
• KWCH — Wichita City Council approves next phase of Water Reuse Master Plan