Despite the record rain in Wichita this month, city officials say water restrictions won't be lifted anytime soon. They add it's possible we could enter stage 3 restrictions by the end of next year.
Cheney Lake has risen over a foot in November but it's still roughly 7.5 feet below the conservation level. Meanwhile, the Equus bed aquifer is 94 percent full.
Public Works Director Gary Janzen says water demand is decreasing now that the growing season has ended but we are not out of the woods.
The city wants to construct additional recharge basins to feed treated water from the Arkansas River into the aquifer. They will also conduct a feasibility study on using treated water discharged from the sewer plant.