12 March 2024
YODER, Kan. (KSNW) – Work continues to get a central Kansas town safe drinking water.
For the last three years, nitrate levels in water in Yoder have tested higher than the 10 mg/l limit. Reno County is now working to get a million dollars to bring the City of Hutchinson water to the area.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says nitrates are a big concern in the state’s water.
“In terms of the compliance issues and threats to our public water supplies that rely on groundwater throughout the state, nitrate is probably number one,” KDHE Director of the Bureau of Water Tom Stiles said.
Health officials say high nitrates are especially bad for babies because they could cause oxygen to not be transported by the blood.
“Nitrate attaches to hemoglobin and stops it from being able to carry much oxygen, and infants will basically show that as becoming a little blue,” Stiles said.
Reno County received a $600,000 grant from the KDHE, but it is still working to get the rest of the money.