On Monday’s City Commission Agenda: More Than Half of Salina Water Mains Are Cast Iron

The Salina City Commission will meet Monday, Aug. 24, at 4 p.m. in Room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street. The meeting is open to the public and can also be watched live on the City of Salina’s YouTube channel.

More than half of Salina’s water distribution system is made up of cast-iron water mains, according to information included in Monday’s City Commission agenda.

Salina currently has approximately 338 miles of water mains ranging from 2 inches to 30 inches in diameter.

Of that total, approximately 175.2 miles — or 51.8% — are cast iron. Nearly 109 miles of those cast-iron mains are six inches in diameter.

According to city staff, much of Salina’s original distribution system was constructed from the early 1900s through the 1960s.

Older cast-iron mains were made using sand molds and were not cement-lined, leaving rough interior surfaces.

The city says those conditions can contribute to tuberculation, a buildup of corrosion products inside the pipe. Over time, that buildup can restrict water flow and contribute to discoloration.

City staff also identifies reduced fire flows, iron bacteria, and taste and odor complaints among the potential problems associated with aging, unlined mains.

Flushing and cleaning can reduce the buildup, according to the city, but those measures are not considered permanent solutions because the material can return.

The issue is particularly problematic in smaller water mains that are more than 50 years old and experience lower water velocities.

The information is included as part of the city’s proposed 2026 Water Main Replacement project.

That project would replace approximately 1.08 miles of pipe at a base construction cost of approximately $2.06 million.

City staff says water main replacement becomes necessary when preventative maintenance is no longer effective.