Toby Ross, Iola’s water plant superintendent, updated Iola Council members Tuesday evening on water sampling efforts to detect lead levels.
A recent KDHE notification directed the city to ramp up its testing after three homes tested above the EPA threshold of lead in their drinking water.
Ross reviewed the city’s plans to increase testing. In 2026, the City of Iola will be required to collect 80 samples from residents, 40 from January through June and another 40 from July through December.
Iola Mayor Steve French took pains to ensure he had a complete understanding of where and how the lead was detected.
“I know people are concerned about it, so I want to be assured that people understand the lead isn’t in the water we’re distributing. It’s the old lines from the water meter going into the house,” French noted toward the end of discussion.
Ross also explained to council members there is no threshold for lead — any amount is considered toxic. The samples where lead was detected were collected in July.
Council member Joel Wicoff asked Ross if the tests identified residences.
“Yes,” replied Ross. “We have to notify the customers once we get the results back and explain everything to them,” he said. “Everyone knows what their results were.”
So far, public concern has been minimal, noted Ross. “I’ve had two calls, maybe three at the plant.”
IN OTHER NEWS:
• Council member Wicoff and Mayor French praised city crews for their work in the fall citywide cleanup. French reminded the public that residents can reserve dump trucks over the weekend to dispose of large loads of rubbish.
• French also expressed a desire to move forward with creating a citizen group to consider the size of the council. Council member Nich Lohman expressed skepticism of the project.
• Rehabilitation work on the city’s water tower north of Allen Community College is complete, noted Iola Administrator Matt Rehder. Additionally, Rehder told council members several city water lines will need to be replaced, a significant project.
The city has applied for between $8-$10 million in grants, Rehder said. “We’re not expecting to get all of them, but any kind of water issue we have from water line replacement to new meters for remote reading, we’ve applied for a grant. But eventually we will be coming to you with a list of projects that need to be done and need to be done now. And we’re going to take out debt unless we can find $4 million under a rock somewhere.”
