Water

A FactFinder 12 Scientific Survey of Wichita residents finds significant support for adding fluoride to the city's water supply.  Even more want to see it put to a vote. Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #19509 Geography Surveyed: City of Wichita Data Collected: 08/17/2012 Release Date: 08/17/2012 20:40 ET Sponsor: KWCH-TV Wichita 1 Asked of 700 Adults ~ Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.1% Should the issue of whether to add fluoride to Wichita's water be put to a public vote?

“This is an issue that certainly has polarized the community,” said Jeff Longwell, Wichita City Councilman for District III. And now it's up to Wichita City Council members to decide what happens next.  Will they decide to fluoridate the water in the city or leave the decision up to Wichita voters?  That's the choice the council now has after a petition from the group Wichitans for Healthy Teeth was certified. Eleven thousand Wichitans signed the petition to fluoridate city water.  The Sedgwick County Elections Office certified the petition.

Cell phone video shows what Susan Jones woke-up to Monday morning. "My neighbor rang the doorbell about 7:30, he was outside.  And, said, there's water coming up,” Jones said. Water was bubbling to the surface from a pipe that had broken... several feet below. "I called the city, had somebody come straight out.  But they said there was a lot of problems like this,” Jones said. Factfinder12 checked with the city of Wichita.  Right now, it's working on 34 water main breaks and leaks.  The city prioritizes which breaks get fixed first, based on how many customers it affects, if it's causing damage, and if it's impacting traffic.

"It's the joy of being pulled across the water," kiteboarder Wes Jenkins says.  "I can have a really bad day, and I go out and kite and I don't think about anything else. " There's a small group of Kansans that enjoys the thrill...the challenge...the danger. "It can be very dangerous if you get in the wrong situation," Jenkins says.  "You're fighting Mother Nature, and Mother Nature always wins. " Something went very wrong Saturday when a Wichita man kiteboarding at Cheney Lake ended up dead.  He was out enjoying the sport with several others including Wes Jenkins, who helped launch him launch for what turned out to be the last time.

Many residents of Ellsworth will have to watch their lawns brown and flowers wilt while the drought carries on. That's because the city is instituted water restritions, prohibiting them from watering their lawns and flowers. City officials say this effort is to help preserve water and prevent a rationing program. One of the reasons for the water restrictions , the smokey hill river is extremely low, and the town is running out of water. Ellsworth requiring residents to reduce water use

Like other Kansas cities and towns, Augusta has asked residents to cut back on outdoor water useage during the drought. Phyllis Stanley is taking the restrictions in stride. She's put a cactus on her front yard with the sign 'Christmas 2012.' Stanley hopes the display makes people smile, even as temperatures show no signs of dropping anytime soon.  

The city of Eastborough joins in on the support to add fluoride to Wichita's water supply. A resolution was passed unanimously during Tuesday night's City Council meeting to support water fluoridation. The resolution is similar to the one Derby approved. Officials in Eastborough say they passed the measure because because of the studies that have shown the benefits of fluoride. The city buys their water from Wichita. Earlier this month, a group of medical professionals in support of fluoridation presented 5,500 signatures on a petition.

The Red Cross says it's seen a jump in drowning cases across the country since Memorial Day weekend. The hot weather has led a lot of people to the pool or lake. But experts say there are important rules to follow that will keep that activity safe. First, learn to swim and make sure your children do, too. Never leave a young child unattended near water. If you go boating, always wear a life jacket. Keep toys away from pools and out of sight when not in use...toys can attract young children to the pool.

“We are in a hot dry period,” said Kent Hixson, Mulvane City Manager.  “We are a growing community.” That combination has led to friction between the cities of Mulvane and Augusta over water use.  Back in the 90's the two cities signed a contract saying Augusta would sell Mulvane up to 200 million gallons of water a year.  Neither expected what's happened since. Now people in Augusta are frustrated that Mulvane's using more water while Augusta has to conserve. “Believe me, there's nobody out there that's more frustrated than I am,” said Bill Keefer, Augusta City Manager.