Designs for a second water treatment facility south of Salina are expected to be unveiled sometime this year according to Utilities Director Martha Tasker.

“It takes away some of our vunrabiltiy,” she said.

“One water plant, one source. A tornado or some tremendous emergency and we’re out of water.”

Tasker joined in on the KSAL Morning News Tuesday with a look at keeping the water flowing in Salina for decades to come.

“If we had a second source with that facility out there we would be able to at least meet our basic needs of the day.”

Tasker added that commissioners have had a study session on the project after reviewing results from a water supply study done by a Kansas City engineering firm.

The price tag for the proposed treatment plant southeast of town is about $32 million and would take advantage of water rights the city holds on five wells near Ohio Street and Water Well Road.

“It serves a lot of purposes for the citizens of Salina in the future and really gets us set up for the next 50 years.”