City of Wichita issued a Boil water advisory Wichita KS on Wednesday morning after a reported loss of power at its main water treatment plant and Hess pump station. The advisory followed lowered and lost water pressure reported early Wednesday on the east and west sides of Wichita.
As of 6 a.m., city officials said work was underway to address the widespread water problem. By 6:15, the city had not identified the source of the lowered and lost water pressure, and it said it could not provide a time for rescinding the advisory.
Wichita water customers
The City of Wichita said the advisory applies to its water customers. It also said water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled, but children should be supervised so water is not ingested, and people with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The city planned a press conference at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall. It also provided a consumer contact number, 265-1300, for water customers with questions about the advisory.
KDHE rescind order
Only KDHE can issue the rescind order after testing at a certified laboratory. KDHE also provided a consumer contact number, 296-5514, for questions about the advisory.
The city said its current water treatment plant is more than 80 years old, while its new water treatment plant is not scheduled to go online until the second quarter of 2027. Restaurants and other food establishments were told they can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture's food safety and lodging program with questions.
The unanswered issue is what caused the reported loss of power at the main water treatment plant and Hess pump station. Until that is resolved and testing clears the water, Wichita customers remain under the advisory.
