Public Meeting for Proposed Sales Tax Increase
There has been a lot of discussion about the Proposed Sales Tax Increase. Mayor Locke has drafted a letter to the citizens of Garnett, to clear up some of the confusion. Please read, and plan on attending the Community Meeting to discuss the Proposed Sales Tax on October 7, 2025 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall Center.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Garnett Water Department to Conduct Water Utility Maintenance “Chlorine Burn” Starting October 6, 2025.
The City of Garnett Water Department will be conducting a free chlorine burn for disinfection of the water distribution system beginning October 6th, 2025. This process will last about three to four weeks. Flushing and chlorine burns are routine distribution system maintenance conducted by utilities with chloramine disinfection. Chlorine burns also reduce the potential future occurrence of coliform or other types of bacteria in the system.
During this free chlorine burn, the water disinfection process will be changed from chloramines to free chlorine which is a stronger and faster-acting disinfectant. The fire hydrants will be opened to allow flushing of the system to help remove sediment from the pipes and distribute the change in disinfectant. Customers may notice open fire hydrants throughout the city during this period. At the end of the free burn, the standard chemicals used for disinfections will be reintroduced to the system and be returned to normal operating conditions.
Possible Noticeable Effects: It is important to understand that during this temporary change there may be some discoloration or cloudiness in the water and possibly a chlorine odor or taste. If this is experienced, please run the water through the tap until it clears. Minor pressure fluctuations and small air pockets may also occur. Fire hydrant flushing should remove most of the color and odor, but some may reach customer lines during the process. Discoloration in laundry is also possible during this time. It is recommended that customers check for discolored water before adding clothes to their washing machine. If discolored water appears, customers can set their washing machine to spin cycle to purge the water, and then refill the machine with clear water. In addition, customers may wish to purchase and use a cleaning additive to help prevent or remove any discoloration that may occur.
Is the Water Safe to Drink? Yes, the water is safe to drink throughout this process and boiling water is not necessary. Customers may notice a change to the taste and smell from the water and may want to let their water tap run for 15 minutes or until the water runs clear. Any odor and color issues will subside as the flushing is completed. Customers who use tap water for kidney dialysis at home should properly monitor their process for complete neutralization of disinfectant residual and should contact their doctor for more information. Customers utilizing the water for aquariums should monitor the chlorine residuals.
Why is this burn out necessary? The City routinely collects samples and monitors the water quality. The Garnett Water Department is tasked with ensuring that water in all points of the system is acceptable to our customers. Over time minerals and metals, which are naturally present in water sources, can increase and attach to pipes and release when there are changes in pressure, resulting in discoloration, odor or affected taste. Other processes such as nitrification and the growth of biofilm can also occur in water distribution pipes. The biofilm growth can cause a reduction in the effectiveness of residual disinfectants over time. This free chlorine “burn-out” will help cleanse the lines, reduce the occurrence of nitrification and biofilm, and ensure that we provide quality water for the citizens.
If you have questions please contact Garnett City Hall, 785-448-5496, and the Garnett Water Department will return your call.
There Will Be No Brush Picked Up During Cleanup Week.
Please Note The Following Changes:
The City of Garnett (municipality) will be charged by Anderson County for dumping fees for items picked up during Clean-Up Week, just like any other week. For this year (2025), this cost will not be passed on to our refuse customers. Note: This is NOT a free dump week. If you choose to take your unwanted items to the county landfill, you will be charged a fee.
Visit our website for more information on items that can be picked up: https://www.simplygarnett.com/o/cgks/page/clean-up-week
During City-Wide Clean-Up Week city crews will start on the north side of town and proceed south until the entire town has been covered. City Crews Will Not Go Back once they have been through.
City crews will begin on Monday of the designated week on the north side of the city, working their way south until the entire city has been covered. They will not return to an area once they have been through, so prepare early to be ready. The City will dispose of the brush at the city-owned burn site designated specifically for tree limbs and yard and garden debris.
Limbs must be in bundles no larger than 6 feet long and 3 feet in width. Note, city crews will not enter private property.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact City Hall at 785.448.5496 or email info@garnettks.net
July 19, 2025
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Garnett, Anderson County
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Garnett public water supply system located in Anderson County. The advisory was issued because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in a portion of the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the City of Garnett indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at: 785-448-3327 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service.
Update: The Boil Water Advisory is continued. We will update you when we have new information. Water samples have been sent for testing. KDHE will notify us when the advisory has been lifted.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 17, 2025
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Issued for a Portion of the City of Garnett, Anderson County
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the City of Garnett public water supply system located in Anderson County.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on July 17, 2025 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system affecting customers bounded by the following areas:
Customers to the East of Elm Street and
North of Park Road, including Family Dollar, Prairie Home Market, Economy Inn, Tractor Supply Co, Garnett Elementary School, City Park Ballfield Complex, and the Lake Garnett and Prairie Links area.
Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-448-3327, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-676
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 17, 2025
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Issued for a Portion of the City of Garnett, Anderson County
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the City of Garnett public water supply system located in Anderson County.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on July 17, 2025 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system affecting customers bounded by the following area:
• Customers to the East of Elm Street and
• Customers North of Park Road and East of Maple Street, including Family Dollar, Prairie Home Market, Economy Inn, Tractor Supply Co, Garnett Elementary School, City Park Ballfield Complex, and the Lake Garnett and Prairie Links area.
Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-448-3327, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory 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.
July 17, 2025
Contact: Jill Bronaugh
Jill.P.Bronaugh@ks.gov
Boil Water Advisory Issued for a Portion of the City of Garnett, Anderson County
TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for a portion of the City of Garnett public water supply system located in Anderson County.
Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
The advisory took effect on July 17, 2025 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system affecting customers bounded by the following areas:
Customers to the East of Elm Street and
North of Park Road, including Family Dollar, Prairie Home Market, Economy Inn, Tractor Supply Co, Garnett Elementary School, City Park Ballfield Complex, and the Lake Garnett and Prairie Links area.
Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 785-448-3327, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:
https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service
Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-676
