JUST PASSED: Salina Commission Passes Water Bill Relief as Citizen Challenges City Officials to Drink Tap Water

The City of Salina is developing a potential water bill relief program and considering rebates for home filtration systems as citizens continue pressing officials for faster action on discolored water and aging water mains.

During Monday’s Salina City Commission meeting, City Manager Jacob Wood presented a proposed pilot program that could refund certain water charges to customers with verified, persistent water-quality problems.

Commissioners also discussed providing affected households with rebates of up to $500 toward whole-house filtration systems while the city prepares to replace water mains on Dover Street, 10th Street, 11th Street and Larson Street.

The meeting followed a recent study session where residents displayed discolored water, dirty filtration cartridges and photographs of stained clothing and household damage.

Proposed Water Bill Relief

The proposed program could provide refunds for three portions of a qualifying customer’s utility bill:

The monthly water base chargeWater usage chargesThe state water fee

Wastewater, trash and recycling charges would remain due because those fees pay for services separate from drinking water.

Wood initially proposed making the program retroactive to January 1, 2026. Commissioners later discussed moving the date back to January 2025 as a sign of goodwill.

Qualifying customers could also stop paying eligible water charges until testing shows that conditions have improved or the affected main has been replaced.

The city must still establish an application process, testing requirements and the water-quality standard used to determine eligibility.

Wood said the program would distinguish between temporary discoloration caused by flushing and continuing problems linked to aging mains.

Problems found entirely within privately owned plumbing would not qualify because property owners are responsible for pipes beyond the city’s water meter.

City Identifies 20 to 25 Long-Term Complaints

Salina has approximately 22,000 water customers.

Wood said the city currently knows of approximately 20 to 25 customers with continuing problems that may require water main replacement. Most of the identified complaints are associated with Dover, 10th, 11th and Larson streets.

He said additional customers could be identified once applications and testing begin.

The city cannot make all water customers automatically eligible because of the financial cost and staff time required to inspect and test properties.

Wood said Salina may be the first Kansas community to create this type of water rate relief program. City staff contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment but did not identify a similar program operating elsewhere in the state.

Main Replacement Project Moving Toward Bidding

The city is preparing to seek bids for water main replacement work on Dover, 10th, 11th and Larson.

Wood said crews have tested water, flushed mains and attempted other measures, but replacement is now considered the remaining long-term solution in those areas.

The project is substantially designed and could be advertised for bids within approximately two weeks.

Bids would likely remain open for about 30 days. A construction schedule will not be known until the city selects a contractor and learns when that company can begin work.

Wood said Salina has replaced nearly 45 miles of water mains during the past 10 years but acknowledged that more work is needed.

Staff expects to return within 60 to 90 days with options for accelerating replacement. Those options could include larger projects, additional borrowing, new funding sources or future changes to water rates.

No decision has been made on a water rate increase.

Commissioners Discuss $500 Filter Rebate

Commissioner Doug Rempp proposed providing filtration assistance in addition to bill relief.

Rempp said he contacted a local water-treatment company and was told that some whole-house filtration systems could cost approximately $500, depending on the equipment and plumbing configuration.

Other commissioners supported considering both programs. They said filters could provide temporary help while residents wait for water mains to be replaced.

Wood said the commission could authorize a separate rebate program capped at $500. Residents could purchase more expensive systems, but the city’s contribution would remain limited to the approved amount.

The city would likely require homeowners to select and maintain their own equipment. City employees would not install filters or enter homes to service privately owned systems.

Commissioners also discussed seeking proposals from local companies or negotiating a bulk price for multiple installations.

Citizens Question Whether $500 Is Enough

Several Salina citizens said a $500 rebate may not cover the full cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining a filtration system.

One citizen reported paying more than $680 for installation, not including a replacement filter costing approximately $200.

Citizens also said filters advertised to last several months may require much more frequent replacement when water contains heavy sediment.

Others questioned whether lower-income families, retirees and single parents could afford to pay the full cost upfront and wait for reimbursement.

They suggested the city pay installers directly or create another option that does not require residents to provide the money first.

The city has not decided whether assistance would be issued as an upfront payment, direct contractor payment or reimbursement.

Citizens Report Appliance and Clothing Damage

Several Salina citizens said bill credits and filter rebates would not compensate them for damage they attribute to the water.

Residents described problems involving water heaters, refrigerators, ice makers, dishwashers, toilets, plumbing fixtures and washing machines.

One citizen presented photographs of stained clothing, bedding and other household items. Others said they repeatedly run water or flush toilets in an attempt to clear discoloration, increasing their monthly bills.

Some residents also said they rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking, pets and infant formula.

No program was proposed during the meeting to reimburse residents for damaged appliances, plumbing or clothing.

Citizen Challenges Commission to Drink the Water

During public comment, a Salina citizen directly challenged Commissioner Greg Lenkiewicz and other commissioners to drink water the resident said came from the city system.

The citizen walked toward the commission and offered them the container of water.

The exchange reflected the level of frustration among residents who said city officials should personally experience the water before deciding whether the proposed response is adequate.

Calls for Citizen Involvement and Faster Replacement

Salina citizens urged the city to include affected residents in the development of the relief program.

One proposed a working group that would include the city manager, a commissioner, a water department representative and a resident directly affected by the problem.

Others said the city should work with local plumbers, water-treatment companies, schools and community organizations.

Several citizens described bill credits and filters as temporary measures rather than substitutes for replacing aging infrastructure.

They questioned why the city had not moved faster in previous years and asked how revenue collected through water rates had been spent.

Residents from north Salina and other areas also warned the city not to assume the problem is limited to the four streets currently scheduled for replacement.

Some said they have experienced yellow or discolored water for years and have installed reverse-osmosis systems or relied on bottled water.

Commission Approves Relief Program With Expanded Benefits

Following public comment and additional commission discussion, commissioners clarified that the program would not be limited to residents on Dover Drive or the other streets currently scheduled for water main replacement.

Any household with a documented water-quality problem may be considered for assistance under the program, subject to the testing and eligibility standards developed by city staff.

The City Commission then voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 26-8362, authorizing the city manager to develop, implement and administer the water rate relief pilot program.

Commissioners added three amendments to the proposal:

Eligible water charge rebates may be considered retroactive to January 1, 2025.Assistance for a qualifying home filtration system may total up to $750.The city manager must develop a method to assist residents who cannot afford to purchase a filtration system and wait for reimbursement.

The third amendment could allow the city to pay an approved expense in advance or directly assist qualifying households that lack the money needed to make the initial purchase. The exact payment process will be determined as staff develops the program.

The amended resolution passed on a 5-0 vote.