“Wichita’s favorable rankings are directly tied to the city’s understanding that a competitive price of water utilities plays a very important role in attracting residents and businesses,” said Director of Utilities David Warren. “The Wichita City Council combines an emphasis on quality with sound business principles to guide the Water Utilities operation.”

Black & Veatch, a global engineering, consulting and construction company, contacted each of the top 50 populated cities to compile the survey, which is broken down into four monthly water usage levels: 7,500 gallons, 15,000 gallons, 100,000 gallons and 10 million gallons. In the 7,500-gallon category, Wichita ranked sixth in the country, ahead of such municipalities as Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Nashville and Colorado Springs. In fact, the difference between Wichita’s rates and those of the No. 1 finisher, Memphis, was less than $13. On the other end of the scale, Wichita’s rates were nearly $80 less than No. 50 Seattle.

In the next category, 15,000 gallons, Wichita ranked 10th least expensive. According to the Wichita Water Utilities department, the average citizen uses 7,500 gallons of water per month if he/she lives in a home with a family of four in the winter months when lawn irrigation isn’t a factor. The larger amount of 15,000 gallons applies to the same family during summer months when usage is higher due to lawn irrigation and swimming pools.

In the remaining categories, 100,000- and 10 million-gallon usage, Wichita’s rates placed it fifth and sixth, respectively. Wichita Water Utilities estimates the average business uses 100,000 gallons a water per month; Wichita’s largest employers use 10 million gallons of water per month.

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