Riley County Commission approves special use authorization for a new water tower

Rural Riley County is getting a new water tower.

County commissioners on Thursday approved a special-use authorization to allow for the construction, operation and maintenance of a 300,000-gallon water tower in the rural water district.

The water tower will go up on a half-acre plot of land west of the intersection of the intersection of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Thomas Wiard Road, on the south side of Tuttle Creek Boulevard.

Bob Isaac, a planner within the county’s planning and development department, told commissioners Rural Water District No. 1 has two towers — one at the Tuttle Creek Shooting Park on Tuttle Creek Boulevard, and another along Wildcat Creek Road west of Saddle Rock Road.

“According to officials of the district, capacity has been dwindling over the last decade,” Isaac said. “It’s well below what is recommended by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.”

Isaac said the district needed a site for the new tower where it could use existing water lines. After some discussion with the county engineer, the county commission agreed to grant an easement and enter into a long-term agreement with the rural water district.

“The new tower will be using (water) in conjunction with the existing north tower near Riley County Shooting Park, while the south tower along Wildcat Creek Road will be replaced,” Issac said. “The overall goal is to double the capacity for existing and future customers of the district.”

The water district has not set a timeline for the tower’s construction yet.