After a Monday night discussion about water reservoir history and reservoir potential, the Augusta City Council voted 7-0 to pay a share of the second phase of a water feasibility study for South Butler County Water Supply Project.
Augusta’s share will be $9,400 of a estimated $28,200 for the second phase of a water study begun last year by area communities.
As of Monday night, Augusta, Andover, and Douglass were the only communities on board for this phase.
Rose Hill city leaders have opted out of this phase to identify a water source for the future.
Last year, Rose Hill, Douglass, Andover, and Augusta got behind the feasibility study proposal.
City Manager Bill Keefer said the $9,400 is not in this year’s budget, but told Councilman Tom Leffler he would see about applying some miscellaneous water funds for the city’s share.
If and when a new reservoir is built in southern Butler County its cost could reach $200 million or more, according to .
Augusta pays for the water it receives from the existing El Dorado reservoir - the only one of three proposed water storage lakes built in the latter part of the last century.
Other reservoir sites were proposed on the Whitewater River, northwest of Augusta, and the Little Walnut River, southeast of the city.
Augusta currently pipelines water from El Dorado to the Mulvane area and could be a conduit for water to Douglass and Rose Hill - cities which acquire water from other sources.
Mayor Kristey Williams said Augusta is unique in the group of four cities because of its two lakes and connection to El Dorado.
Councilman Roger Chrislip moved to finance a portion of the second phase because water will be an important need in the future. He said with each dropout there would no water project.
Water costs and water demand scenarios would be looked at in this portion of the study.
The second phase of this study would also look at evaluation of water revenues and debt service, financial analysis, and project management.
