News Release

Water Storage in Equus Beds Aquifer Continues to Recover

Water in storage in the Equus Beds aquifer near Halstead, Kansas, continues recovery to 55 percent of storage volume that was previously lost between August 1940 to October 1992.  Reduction in pumpage by the city of Wichita from the Equus Beds aquifer was a major factor in the recovery of water levels and storage.  Increased reliance on Cheney Reservoir by the city of Wichita for municipal water use enabled a decrease in city pumpage from the Equus Beds from 60 to 40 percent of the city’s total water use between 1992-2005.  Precipitation contributed to a lesser extent to the recovery of water levels and storage in the aquifer.  Irrigation water use, which varies greatly year-to-year, did not contribute to the recovery.  This information is part of an ongoing cooperative study between the U.S. Geological Survey and the city of Wichita, to monitor water storage levels in the Equus Beds aquifer.

The Wichita well field was developed in the Equus Beds aquifer northwest of Wichita to supply water to area residents.  City ground-water withdrawals from the aquifer increased from the 1940s until the early 1990s.  In response to increased city and agricultural withdrawals and drought conditions, water levels at most wells declined to record lows during 1991-1993, declining as much as 40 feet or more.  This water decline represents a loss of water stored in the aquifer that is available for future supply. Since 1993, water levels rose steadily in the well field part of the aquifer where the city’s wells are concentrated and in conjunction with decreased city withdrawals. 

Information about the Equus Beds aquifer recharge project in Kansas can be found at:

http://ks.water.usgs.gov/Kansas/studies/equus/

The new water levels report for the Equus Beds aquifer is now available online at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5321/

Printed copies of Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5321, “Status of ground-water levels and storage volume in Equus Beds aquifer near Wichita, Kansas, January 2003-January 2006,” by Cristi V. Hansen may be purchased from the USGS Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, Colo. 80225, or call 1-888-ASK-USGS. A limited number of copies are available from the USGS office in Lawrence, Kansas.

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