Should the City of Mulvane, the casino-designee in this area, leap hurdles ahead it will most likely be getting its water from Augusta.
Under terms of an agreement approved by governmental leaders in both communities late in the last century, Augusta is the “sole provider” of potable water to that Sedgwick County community.
City Manager Bill Keefer told his City Council this week that every issue around the casino is in a “holding pattern” at this time.
He contacted his counterpart in Mulvane about water needs but no details are available at this time.
Keefer said before the casino decision, Mulvane was talking to Augusta about needing more water from the pipeline that runs from the El Dorado reservoir, through the local treatment plant, down the line (which once served area refineries) to Mulvane.
Augusta has also expressed an interest in talking to El Dorado officials about renegotiating its allocation contract to receive raw water from the Butler County’s largest lake.
“We have to be ready to fulfill whatever needs will be there for us and Mulvane in the future,” he said. “We need to be a party to any water supply discussion.”
As yet, no formal meetings have been scheduled  and the gallonage requests have not been made on either end of the waterline.
Keefer will keep the Council informed.