(MSC News)--The Public Wholesale Water Supply District (PWWSD) No. 27 was incorporated on Monday, November 2, 2015. The formation of the regional water supplier was possible with the cooperation of local water supply entities including Brown RWD No. 2, Doniphan RWD 6, City of Robinson, City of Powhattan, Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska, and the Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska.
PWWSD No. 27 was formed due to an overarching concern of high nitrate concentration in the groundwater supply across the region. Brown RWD No. 2 was awarded a grant through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to sponsor a Regional Public Water Supply Study to analyze the water supply needs in the region. The five local water supply entities previously mentioned responded with interest to the idea of working together to solve their common problem – nitrates.
The Public Wholesale Water Supply District Act enables public water supply system to cooperate for the purpose of providing wholesale water to the participating entities. The function of a PWWSD is to secure a single source of water on a scale large enough for the participating entities, and to sell that water at wholesale to the participating entities. The entities share in the costs to construct, produce, and maintain the facilities of the PWWSD, taking full advantage in the economy of scale to minimize the financial impact to each individual entity. It is the mission of PWWSD 27 to provide quality water to its member entities at the lowest cost possible.
With the formation of PWWSD No. 27, a Board of Directors comprised of 1 member from each participating entity, with 1 rotating seat between them, was formed to govern the decisions of the PWWSD. The District has secured a quality water supply capable of supporting the water usage of the member entities, and have contracted with an engineering firm to complete the design of the supply system. The PWWSD Board is encouraging other interested public water suppliers in the region to reach out and learn about the function of the PWWSD and how it could be beneficial to their patrons.
The PWWSD 27 meets the first and third Thursdays at rotating member cities.  The public is welcome to attend the meetings.  Please call 785/474-3407 for time and location.