An investigation is underway to determine why a contract employee, working at Junction City’s Water Treatment Plant, switched from a backup generator back to Evergy power after winds knocked out power to the facility on Dec. 15.
City Manager Allen Dinkel said in a Tuesday news release that the full ramifications of that decision are still being evaluated. It led to hundreds of thousands of gallons of water entering the basement of the plant and disruption of water service to Junction City and surrounding communities for several days. Most of the city’s water was restored by the weekend.
Dinkel says in Phase I of the water emergency, adequate warning systems were in place and according to HDR Engineering, were working at the time water began entering the basement. The city is looking into the reactions and actions of its longtime contractor Veolia and its staff to the alarms and water levels in the basement.
The city has contracted with Veolia Water, or one of its predecessors for more than 30 years.
The plant is also in the second phase of a renovation, which began in 2014. Crossland Contractors of Columbus, Kansas is overseeing the design process and Dinkel says they’re evaluating if any changes might be necessary.
Junction City remains in a boil advisory. It’s anticipated KDHE could lift that at anytime.
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