Caney is running out of water.
Caney city and school officials spelled out the dire situation this week with Montgomery County commissioners, who are seeking a state water emergency, the Montgomery County Chronicle reported.
Caney City Administrator Kelly Zellner said the Little Caney River Basin, which provides water to the southeast Kansas community, may not meet demand for the rest of the year without conservation measures, the newspaper reported.
On Monday, the Montgomery County Commission move to seek a water emergency declaration from the state, at the behest of the city and USD 436, Caney’s school district.
A letter signed by Rick Whitson, Montgomery County emergency management director, has been sent to the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, the newspaper said.
Zellner and USD 436 Superintendent Blake Vargas provided commissioners Monday with an update about conservation efforts already underway because of the lack of water in the river basin.
The school district has moved to a four-day school week, turned off locker room showers, and will install outdoor bathrooms, the newspaper reported.
Students and faculty drink bottled water, and hand sanitizer citations have been placed. The school district is the city’s second-largest water consumer.
Additionally, Caney Mayor Joshua Elliott announced the city is limiting access to the city’s public restrooms.
Caney also applied last week for state and federal funds to assist the local government install a water line from Caney to Coffeyville.
The goal, according to reporting from the Chronicle, is to eventually have Coffeyville serve as Caney’s primary water source.
“Our problems will not be solved with a few rains, or with the goal of building a new line to Coffeyville, Zellner told commissioners. “All of these things take time – a lot of time – to complete. Until then, we’ve got a dire situation involving our existing water source.”
In a letter posted to Caney’s city website, Mayor Joshua Elliott apologized for the measures taken to limit water usage.
“My goal was only to be proactive in water conservation,” Elliott wrote. “Not only is Caney suffering but the entire state is. Continue to pray for rain as we need it desperately.”
