ADVISORY: Do Not Drink Order and Conservation Order Issued for GB Airport Industrial Complex

From the city of Great Bend

The city of Great Bend public water supply system located in Barton County has issued a Do Not Drink Order for customers of the Airport Industrial Complex public water supply system. This DOES NOT affect the City of Great Bend water system within the city.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

1. DO NOT GIVE TAP WATER TO INFANTS. Infants up to six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.
2. Water, juice, and formula intended for infants up to six months should not be prepared with tap water.  Use bottled water or other water low in nitrates for this purpose.
3. DO NOT BOIL TAP WATER.  Nitrate levels cannot be reduced by boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water settle.  Excessive boiling can concentrate the nitrates as water evaporates because the nitrates remain in the liquid.
4. Water should not be ingested or used for brushing teeth.  Use bottled water for these purposes.
5. Do not use water to cook or prepare food.
6. Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
7. Tap water can be used for bathing. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested.
8. Tap water may be used to flush toilets.

The advisory took effect on April 24, and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacteria/nitrate contamination in excess of the MCL are resolved.

Limited bottled water and hand sanitizer is being supplied by the system at Airport Terminal Building located at 9047 6th St. for those in need.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a Do Not Drink Order, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 620-793-4170, or KDHE at 785-296-5514.

For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruptionRestaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the Do Not Drink Order on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at  kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.

Conservation Order

The city of Great Bend will implement temporary water conservation measures at the Great Bend Airport Industrial Complex beginning April 24, 2026, in support of the ongoing airport water tower improvement project. These measures are expected to remain in place for approximately one month while work is completed.

This is a planned operational adjustment to maintain system reliability during construction activities.

Important Notice

1. This DOES NOT affect the City of Great Bend water system within the city.
2. Residential and commercial water service in Great Bend will remain normal.
3. ONLY the Great Bend Airport Industrial Complex is impacted.

Businesses within the Airport Industrial Complex are asked to reduce non-essential water use during this period, including:

1. Limiting wash-down activities
2. Reducing non-critical cooling water usage
3. Repairing leaks promptly
4. Minimizing irrigation or outdoor water use
5. Implementing efficient process water practices where feasible

These efforts will help maintain adequate system pressure and flow throughout the duration of the project.