Commissioner Details Water Crisis at Former Sundowner System, Now Pleasant Hill Water District

Commissioner Joe Hay provided an update during the August 11, 2026 Saline County Commission meeting on water problems at a private water system southwest of the area, formerly known as Sundowner and now called the Pleasant Hill Water District.

Hay said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a no-drink order after a pipe break left the water system without the proper chemicals, and KDHE shut down the system until repairs are completed. He said crews had been replacing all the plumbing inside the pump house and expected water to be restored "this afternoon." Bottled water has been available to residents in the meantime.

Regarding a possible sale of the system, Hay said a letter had been sent to the former owner. If the former owner signs within a couple of days, he said, the KCC and KDHE would step back and no sheriff's sale would occur. If the letter is not signed within 45 days, a sheriff's sale would proceed, and the water would be taken over locally through a group he referred to as the Fairview Improvement District rather than an outside buyer.

Hay said residents signed a petition, with at least 50% of those in the area, to bring a request to the Saline County Commission to form an improvement district, which would then be sent to the state. He said an improvement district would allow residents to access low-cost state loans to work on their infrastructure. He noted a water tower and water hydrants have been donated to the group.

Resident Rosemary Mai raised the issue during the public forum, noting community fundraising efforts to help residents with poor water quality, and offered water available at a local radio station. Hay noted the system was private, meaning the county previously had limited ability to intervene.