The completion of Cheney Reservoir concluded another important chapter in the history of Wichita and Kansas, but by no means did the story end there. The water system, under the direction of the Wichita Water Department, continued to expand, with increased demands placed on it. The history of a water supply is a continuous process, as a complex society adapts to tremendous challenges.

As Wichita grew, the challenges became more difficult. The city's ownership of the entire water system led to important decisions about where the water should go and who should be able to buy it. As actions were taken to expand the system outside the city limits, questions about the next source of supply were renewed. New state and federal laws, while protecting valuable resources, added greatly to the difficulties of running the utility. Questions of public health arose. It was clearly a time of change and growth.

On November 14, 1968, Mayor Bill Anderson positioned and lowered a 13-foot section of 16-inch diameter pipe into the ground and completed the 1000th mile of water mains in Wichita. The gold-painted section, part of the system to serve the Century II complex, was inscribed, "1882­-1000 Miles of Pipe--Wichita, Kansas Water System--1968." Much had happened since the original eight miles of wooden main had been laid in 1882.

On January 18, 1966, bids were taken to construct the Mains and Services building in Sim Park. The City Commission approved a bid of $254,924 from Parker Construction Company to build a large office building, garage attachment, and paved parking lot to serve as headquarters for crews who install, inspect, and maintain water mains, hydrants, service lines, and meters, and perform field services for customers.

In 1969, the department received acceptance of a federal grant application for new extensions to the water system. Due to Wichita's continued growth, the northeast area needed additional facilities. The city reported on February 20, 1969, that an $855,750 federal grant from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administration would help pay the $1,862,000 cost of a five-mile water line system to serve 20,400 consumers in northeast Wichita. The grant, which had been sought and denied in 1966, was the first federal assistance obtained directly by the Water Department. Previously, aid had come through other city agencies, but the strength of the department finally warranted direct assistance.

The new addition helped maintain adequate pressure throughout the system and would meet the future needs of various urban areas which eventually might be served, including Park City, Kechi, and Bel Aire, and also the accelerated demands of Wichita State University.

Another major step was taken soon after, when the pumping station, built in 1888, was replaced by a new, more efficient model. The City Commission authorized the station on July 29, 1969, with the intent of asking for federal aid from HUD to help pay the estimated three million dollar cost. A 7.5 million gallon reservoir was also authorized at an estimated cost of $560,000. It took considerable time to initiate the project, however, and the cost estimates rose, being revised in December 1970, to eight million dollars for the plant and one million dollars for the reservoir.

Delays resulted in obtaining federal aid when HUD withheld the request because it was not satisfied with Wichita's equal employment opportunity efforts. Eventually, a $1.3 million grant for the project was approved and announced on June 11, 1971. Later, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) approved another grant, worth $1.5 million, to further offset costs.

Six million dollars in water revenue bonds were sold to the New York firm of Dillon, Reed, and Company on March 7, 1972, to pay for the projects, with an interest rate of 5.222857 percent. These were sold shortly after bids were received for the plant, and Dondlinger and Son Construction Company was awarded the contract for a low bid of $4,902,706.

On August 17, 1974, the new pumping station, valued at $5.5 million, was dedicated to Robert H. Hess, who had retired in 1973 after being the director of water since the inception of the department.

The new all-electric pump station replaced the old one, which had been renovated to include 17 natural gas, diesel, and electric pumps, some of which were over 40 years old. The old station's capacity of 87 million gallons would soon have become insufficient. Skyrocketing demands caused the push for a new station, which had a capacity of 170 million gallons per day, anticipated to be enough to meet the city's needs past the year 2000. It was located across the road from the old station, which was razed. A 7.5 million gallon reservoir was also constructed just east of the new station, to meet the increased needs.

Consumption continued to rise and the area covered by the system expanded, thus pressure was inadequate in the eastern fringes of the city during the record-setting heat wave in the summer of 1980. Therefore, a booster pumping station was planned. On January 27, 1981, the City Commission authorized the Water Department to proceed with the construction of the Webb Road Booster Station to provide the needed improvements.

Black and Veatch engineered the dual-level pumping station and ten million gallon underground storage reservoir, located at 21st Street and Webb Road. Anco Construction Company, Ltd., of Topeka, was the low bidder among 11 participants at $3,488,888, much less than the estimate of $5,096,000. But shortly after the bid was opened, the city was notified of the company's wish to withdraw the bid because of a $95,794 error. However, since the bid had been opened, the city held the company to that amount. Although Anco sued, the Sedgwick County District Court found for the city, requiring the company to accept the contract.

Bonds for the project were sold on April 20, 1982, after Wichita had negotiated a package with an investment consortium headed by First Securities Company of Kansas, Inc., United Securities, Inc., and Ranson and Company. The revenue bonds received A and A+ ratings from Moody's and Standard and Poor's rating companies, and the eight million dollar issue was sold at an interest rate of 10.86579 percent. Because of the prevailing economic conditions and government policies, the interest rate was the highest in water utility history and there was no chance of federal aid.

During the last 15 years of the water utility's first century, a number of controversies developed including the disposal of lime sludge and the emotional issue of fluoridation.

The city had been dumping lime sludge from the treatment plant into the Arkansas River since soft water treatment began. The sludge was not toxic or harmful to river life, but caused discoloration and could reduce the oxygen supply in the river if not sufficiently dispersed.

Attention was drawn to the dumping in 1965, when a low river, combined with a semi-annual basin cleaning, significantly discolored the water. Hess said in an article in the Eagle on April 17, 1965, that the State