Governor Kelly Announces $57M to Secure Water Supply for Dodge City, Support the Ogallala Aquifer

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly today announced that $57 million is being invested in Dodge City to upgrade its existing water treatment process and infrastructure. The project advances the Kelly administration’s work to address the state’s water quality and quantity needs.

“By exploring every avenue for investment into our water infrastructure, we are making progress to address Kansas’ water crisis,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “When we work together – pooling resources across federal, state, and local government – we can significantly impact the future of water for the region.”

The project will strengthen the city’s process of discharging treated wastewater into the Arkansas River streambed. There, it will infiltrate into the Ogallala Aquifer and provide additional groundwater at the city’s existing well sites. Once complete, 4,147 acre-feet, or 1.3 billion gallons, of recycled water is expected to be available annually.

“The WaterSMART award from the Bureau of Reclamation and the funding commitment from the Build Kansas Fund will further solidify Dodge City as a leader in water conservation management and will help protect the Ogallala Aquifer for generations,” said Nick Hernandez, City Manager for Dodge City.

The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation awarded the city $14,250,000 through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

“From the water in our taps to the rain in our gutters, water infrastructure impacts many aspects of our lives, including where we can build homes and businesses,” said Representative Sharice Davids, KS-03. “Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, we’re making targeted investments in local infrastructure, which enhances safety, efficiency, and our ability to meet future development needs. I’m committed to building stronger, more resilient communities all across our state.”

That Federal funding, combined with $22,750,000 from the City of Dodge City and $20,000,000 from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund, creates a total investment of $57,000,000 through this project.

“Technical assistance and matching fund support to maximize Federal funding for Kansas is what our local communities need to be successful. This project is a great example of a partnership between the Hub, the City of Dodge City, and the Federal government,” said Matt Volz, Executive Director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub.

The Hub was established to maximize federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding opportunities for Kansas. The Hub provides no-cost technical assistance and promotes infrastructure projects related to water, transportation, energy, broadband, cybersecurity, and emergency management across Kansas. In addition, the Hub administers the Build Kansas Fund, which can support communities with match dollars for grant programs funded through BIL.