WICHITA, Kansas -- While more than a foot of snow will help with the drought, but it's hardly enough.
If the drought continues then the water supply in Wichita and for other communities who depend on the city for water could find themselves facing a water shortage.
Wichita city leaders filled a meeting room Tuesday morning, as they consider options to fight an ongoing drought battle.
"The spring outlook for March, April, and May of this year are tilted towards drier than normal," said Joe Pajor, Public Works & Utilities, City of Wichita. "For most of the state including the Wichita area."
The city's public works department presented council members with several options to help stabalize our water supply and keep up with the growing demand.
Cheney Lake is the main source of Wichita's water supply with more than 8,000 of surface acres of water, but it could all drain in two years if the drought persists.
"Now going into the third year we see an end out there at mid 2015 where we won't be okay," said Alan King, Public Works & Utilities, City of Wichita. "So that's why we're having the conversation now."
Among those options, city leaders considered implementing a voluntary water restrictions program or reducing outdoor water usage by 50% of its current level.
Other costly options include installing more wells in West Wichita, but it would require an investment.
"I think there are other options out there that are far better than the investments that we made than that recharge," said Jeff Longwell, Wichita City Council. "That's what we need to look at right now."
All of the moisture and snow Wichita received in the back-to-back storm only provides a short term fix to the city's drought problem.
1 foot of snow is equivalent to around 1 inch of water.
"El Dorado Lake is only part of a solution of Wichita's long term water need," said Kurt Bookout, El Dorado Public Utilities Director. "I think it's a significant portion of the solution. I don't think it's obvious as other commissioners stated."
El Dorado Lake has 1,600 fewer surface acres of water compared to Cheney Lake, a water size that could help serve a quarter of a million people in Wichita.
Wichita city leaders will meet with Kansas lawmakers in Topeka on Friday to further their discussion.
