KRWA initiates new Water Rights Program

The Kansas Rural Water Association is initiating a new program to assist utilities with consultation services in the area of water rights.

KRWA has been providing services to systems for many years with financial assistance for new construction and expansion, with water treatment problem solving, water quality reports, leak detection and wastewater options. This latest action will help ensure that systems will have the authorization to supply their customers with the quantity of water their customers require.

The program will be managed by Doug Helmke. Doug will join KRWA on June 19. Doug and his wife, Beth, and two daughters live in Topeka. He is a graduate of Kansas State University with a B.S. in geology. He is currently a licensed geologist in both Kansas and Missouri. He has been employed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources since 1989.

KRWA's new Water Rights Program will provide water rights checkups and consultation services on request concerning any pending action with the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Division of Water Resources (DWR). As most permits to develop a municipal water right allow a period of 20 years to put water to its maximum beneficial use, it is wise for public water systems and individuals to review the progress of this development at regular intervals.

A water rights checkup will also confirm that the quantities of water diverted and rates of diversion for wells and pumpsites are within the limits of a system's permits and water rights, that the wells and pumpsites are located as authorized, and that the water is being used within its authorized place of use.

The Water Rights Program will also be available to assist with the completion of applications for permit, applications for approval to change water rights and the review of certificates of appropriation proposed to be issued by DWR. If a city or rwd or other water right holder chooses to investigate the possibility of buying an existing water right to supplement their present water rights, KRWA will assist with the evaluation of the water rights in the area of consideration.

Read more about this new program in the July issue of The Kansas Lifeline.