The data had been assembled based on the results of the survey, along with information from the 40 test wells drilled by the Well Works Manufacturing Company. Earnest Boyce of the State Board of Health, concurred with the report, and S.W. Lohman, who was in charge of ground water investigation in Kansas for the U.S. Geological Survey, explained the progress and results of the study.

At the same meeting, Lawrence also presented a report on the completion of the test well drilling, recommending that since the tests had proven satisfactory and the wells were approved by the proper authorities, his plans and specifications for 25 permanent wells be passed. The commission approved both the report on the Equus Beds and the plans for the permanent wells, which could be constructed upon acceptance by federal and state officials. The wells would range in depth from 75 to 270 feet with a minimum inside diameter of 18 inches. In addition, observation wells were planned to allow detection of any pollution moving into the beds from surface streams or nearby oil fields.

Wells sent the formal application for using the 25 wells to supply water to the public for domestic purposes to the state Board of Health on February 4, 1939. The water permit was received shortly thereafter. The permit was signed by F.P. Helms, M.D., of Topeka, with an attached letter to Wells. In the letter, Helms expressed concerns on pollution, "We are not unmindful that a hazard exists in the development of a public water supply in a drainage basin where oil fields are located. The hazard caused by the Burrton field studies indicate that at the present time approximately 80 percent of the brine being produced in the Burrton field is being returned to disposal formation. There is every reason to believe that in the future a larger percentage of the brine will be returned to disposal formations. With the proper disposal of brine into deep formations, it is reasonable to assume that the hazard of brine pollution is eliminated." (Beacon, 2/9/39). Now that the city had the permit, work toward the permanent wells could continue with the knowledge of a definite supply.

The location of the wells, an important decision which would have serious implications later, was determined after considerable study of the surveys and the test wells. A minimum daily production of 32 million gallons was necessary, and a minimum of 25 wells was needed to develop the supply sufficiently without placing an undue stress on the water strata. After receiving state approval, bids were received on February 27, 1939, for construction of the 25 wells, and a second contract was awarded to Layne-Western Company at $127,640, to be completed by September 1.

Once the locations were determined, it was necessary to procure water rights and easements from property owners. At the time, no law governed the use of water in the state other than the common law requirement to obtain approval from the landowner. It would not be until 1945 that a law controlling such use would be passed, proving to be a very important decision for Wichita.

In February, the initial steps were taken to acquire the rights. Residents living in a 15 mile strip north and south to the west of Halstead had discussed the proposed wells, and agreed that, unless everyone was satisfied, no one would sign to allow drilling. Lohman, who surveyed the basin, explained the proposal to the group, and afterwards all agreed to sign. On March 8, eight of the 25 residents signed lease agreements to allow the drilling to begin. The other leases were obtained later.

Work began on the wells on March 14, 1939. Gravel was poured around the screened casing of the first permanent soft water well on March 30. It was 101 feet in depth with a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons per day, located five miles west and three miles north of Sedgwick. Twenty-four hour shifts were used to work on completing the 25 wells, and the job was finished on August 8, 1939, for $129,129. Two subcontractors were used in the job. D.L. McDonald of Amarillo, Texas, drilled 13 of the deeper wells with rotary drilling equipment. Two of the more shallow wells were constructed by the Keyyl Well Company of Grand Island, Nebraska, using the concentric casing method. The remainder of the wells were constructed by Layne-Western using both types of procedures.

For the next few months, constant updates on the progress of the construction appeared in the press and were reported at City Commission hearings. On May 22, 1939, Alfred MacDonald, the city manager since April, informed the commissioners that 12 of the 25 wells were completed and tested, and were found to be producing significantly greater amounts of soft water than predicted. Before the project, the 25 wells had been intended to draw 20 million gallons daily, but that figure was reached after the completion of 16 wells. All 25 produced over 63 million gallons, over three times as much as anticipated. With the progress going so well, the commission, upon the recommendation of MacDonald, directed officials to acquire the rights-of-way for the 48-inch pipeline to carry the water from the Harvey County line to the city. The necessary land was to be secured by eminent domain, but construction would await PWA approval.

The Beacon reported on June 11, 1939, that the pipeline rights-of-way had been completed. Surveys for the route were underway, as the city prepared as much of the work as possible. By June 20, the 25 wells were completed, and permission to lay the line was sought from PWA in Dallas. The commission was very pleased with the overall progress, especially the unexpectedly high water yields.

Lawrence reported it would be necessary to amend the federal application to transfer some of the money from the pipeline to the construction of a filtration plant. The plant would remove the iron and other elements of hardness, except the chlorides, without putting the overall construction costs higher than planned. While chlorides could only be removed by distilling the water, at prohibitive cost, the water from the Equus Beds contained only 15 parts per million of chlorides, and a hardness of 8.75 grains per gallon. This compared to 600 parts per million chlorides for the earlier supply, with a hardness of 26 grains per gallon. The chemical analysis showed 1.1 parts per million of iron, which was not harmful but caused discoloration. The filtration plant would remove the calcium hardness from the water and, more importantly, it would also remove carbon dioxide. Without carbon dioxide, the water would be able to run through the mains without dissolving the encrustation which had accumulated from years of using hard water. The filter plant would replace the field storage tank, booster station and reservoir in the original application.

Little action was taken for over a month. Then on July 25, 1939, the City Commission held a three-hour session discussing several water matters. A Wichita contractor, O.T. Tyler, was awarded the third contract for the construction of 25 well houses for $19,910, lowest of 15 bids. After bids were approved by the PWA, construction started on August 25 and was completed by April 12, 1940.

The last of the 25 wells was completed on August 2, 1939, and, once tested, they would be protected by the well houses. The wellfield had a capacity of over 63 million gallons per day. This led Lawrence to estimate that the supply would meet the needs of the city for 30 years, the duration of the bonds. With the wells completed, the next steps were to lay the 48- inch pipeline and to build the filter plant.

The City Commission was busy over the next several months since much of the way was paved for completing the major sections of the system. On August 22, 1939, Milford E. Rogers, staff civil engineer for