Reno County Commissioners approve Yoder water deal

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — On Wednesday, Reno County Commissioners approved the purchase of water from Hutchinson for the Yoder water district.

Commissioners said there isn’t enough water to meet the district’s needs without the purchase. County documents show the agreement has been in the works for months.

According to those documents, Hutchinson will provide a monthly average of 32,000 gallons to Yoder, a town that has dealt with high nitrate levels in its water for a while.

The purchase still has to be approved by the Hutchinson City Council. If it is approved, water rates in the district may go up because of the cost of getting water from the city.

The Reno County Commissioners approved a $1 million loan on July 10 to provide Yoder with safe drinking water. The loan is for a 20-year term at a “relatively low interest rate,” between 2% and 3%.

Reno County said in March the nitrate levels for Rural Water District 101, which serves Yoder, have “continued to be above allowable limits.”

Health officials say high nitrates are especially bad for babies because they can prevent the transport of oxygen by the blood.

“Nitrate attaches to hemoglobin and stops it from being able to carry much oxygen, and infants will basically show that as becoming a little blue,” Stiles said in March.

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