Wellington Lake is 40-inches low, but water rationing is not yet in the forecast
Wellington Lake as it looks on Sept. 24, 2024.
By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow— The more than 1.5 inches of rain this past weekend certainly helped, but Wellington Lake is still well below normal water levels.
The lake is 40 inches low, getting approximately a two-inch boost from last weekend’s rain. It’s still terribly low, but not as really terribly low as it was on Saturday before the rain came.
Nevertheless, the dire conditions at Wellington Lake aren’t as bad as it is at Cheney Reservoir, the primary water supply to the Wichita metro area. The city enacted water restrictions in August which have designated water usage days in specific city zones. Wellington isn’t there yet, but that doesn’t mean that won’t happen in the future.
Wellington City Manager Jeff Porter wrote in Friday’s newsletter:
“For the past several months, there has been stories in the news about the ongoing drought and water restrictictions in communities across the state. Wellington Lake has not been immune to the summer’s hot weather and lack of rain.”
He continues:
“Due to the lack of flow in the Chickaskia River, we cannot divert water using the river pumps. It is likely that in the coming days, the city will enter a water watch.”
During the water watch, the city will:
•Clean and flush the wells to maintain them in their efficient condition.
•Will work to address leaks promptly following detection.
•Monitor its water use – curtailing activities that lead to high use as warranted.
Porter concludes:
“While no mandatory actions are taken during a water watch, we ask that the community use indoor and outdoor water efficiently. Look for some water-saving tips in upcoming newsletters.”
