The Water Department is responsible for drinking water distribution including maintenance of water lines, meters and a treatment facility located on East McKay St.
Frontenac’s water supply is provided by three deep wells located in the Ozark aquifer, one of the most important sources of water for southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, and northeast Oklahoma. These wells supply Frontenac’s 1480 water meters with between 80 and 90 million gallons of water per year. A nearby water treatment facility provides aeration, chlorine and filter treatment before being sent to two elevated water towers.
Frontenac’s water is routinely tested regularly to meet drinking water standards.
Improvements
In 2016, the city’s routine water quality testing began to show readings of combined radium in the drinking water approaching allowable limits. Radium is formed naturally through the decay of rocks and soil. It’s not uncommon to find small amounts of radium in drinking water throughout the United States.
In 2017, the running average of combined radium exceeded the allowable limits, prompting Frontenac to notify its users of the violation, and potential risks to health. In 2019, the City signed a consent order with the State of Kansas, agreeing to provide a plan to reduce radium levels and avoid fines.
Kramer Consulting, LLC was hired as the designer and engineer on the project, which will include digging a new well to replace a non-operational well originally dug in 1907, renovations to the water plant to update controls and piping, adding a lime water softening system, new filters, new pumps, odor control, and replacement of the water tower on McKay St. The estimated cost of the improvements is $5,500,000.00 and will be funded by a 30-year loan from the State of Kansas. By using a KDHE loan, the city’s cost will be reduced by approximately $1,300,000.00 in the form of loan forgiveness. The 30-year loan will cost the city around $230,000.00 per year and will be made using current water revenue.
This project is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.
Updates: The City has completed construction of a new well. The advertisement of bids for upgrades to the water treatment facility is pending approval by the State of Kansas KDHE.
Water Rates
Residential In City Limits
$19.46 Minimum charge not in excess of 2,000 gallons
$0.56 Charge for each one hundred gallons per month above the minimum of 2,000 gallons
Residential Outside City Limits
$24.95 Minimum charge not in excess of 2,000 gallons
$0.67 Charge for each one hundred gallons per month above the minimum of 2,000 gallons
Businesses
$25.46 Minimum charge not in excess of 2,000 gallons
$0.61 Charge for each one hundred gallons per month above the minimum of 2,000 gallons
Water Fees
$300.00 service charge plus materials and labor for installation of a new meter
$6.83 per meter monthly service charge
$0.50 Water Protection Fee
