By TONY GUERRERO and JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Despite recent rains in Ellis County, the county and large areas of the state remain in exceptional drought.
Hays is expected to receive 3.46 inches of rain by the end of June, according to the K-State Agriculture Research Center, but has received .43 inches so far this month.
The city is supposed to have a cumulative participation average of 11.27 inches by the end of June. However, Hays has only received 6.64 inches since Jan. 1
Local communities are already facing tough decisions in the wake of the ongoing drought.
At the intersection of water conservation and economic impacts, the city of Ellis has faced concerns over water use during the ongoing drought at the Ellis Golf Club, 1301 Spruce.
At the city council meeting on May 15, city council members heard from Police Chief Avery Smith about a series of water violations at the club. After giving a courtesy warning they were using water in violation of city and Kansas Department of Health and Environment ordinances, they were noted to continue using water during restricted times.
“We need to address it, especially if we’re going to be as far behind as we are in moisture,” Smith said.
It was also noted sprinkler systems were running while rain was recently falling on the course.
City Attorney Olavee Raub said warnings are not to be given and the person responsible could immediately face criminal charges. Smith said ongoing violations could even result in a sentence that includes serving time in jail.
As the course generally uses effluent, rather than treated water from the city, the city is bound to KDHE regulations.
Smith suggested updating city ordinances.
“As far as the violation of the KDHE permit, we may be put in a position where if they are not going to comply with the provisions, we have no other recourse than to terminate their usage of effluent water,” Raub. “Otherwise, we are in violation of the KDHE permit, which falls back on us.”
After the club was made aware of the council’s observations, representatives spoke at the next city council meeting on June 5 as the council considered options that would allow water use to keep the course’s greens alive through the summer.
“In the drought times, the heat on the green, the grass is so small it will kill it,” said Rick Gaschler, member of the Ellis Golf Club board.
Raub told the council as the greens are a necessary part of the business, an exception could be carved out for the club.
The council will consider an updated ordinance at its next meeting on June 19.
Jeff Crispin, Hays director of water resources, explains the impact of the drought on Hays and what the following months will look like.
“From a drought perspective it put us into D4 exceptional drought and with any drought, that causes us to watch our water situation a lot closer,” Crispin said.
Despite the rain received in the last week, Crispin said it’ll take a lot more rainfall before Ellis County can move out of the exceptional drought but assured residents the county won’t see any more restrictions this summer.
“I think we’ll continue with our normal water restriction time period that we do every year. I don’t see us adding a different or separate water restriction,” Crispin said.
Crispin pointed out the availability of WaterSmart.hays.com, which offers a rebate program to help lower water consumption as well as a variety of water sensors.