14

THE KANSAS LIFELINE

July 2018

he city of Plains is located

in Meade County in the

southwest part of the state

at the intersection of US

Highways 54 and 160. Plains

has a population of 1,088 and

has the distinction of having the

widest main street in the United

States measuring 155 feet 5

inches. Plains was originally

platted in 1885 and until about

1916, city residents used private

wells or windmills as their

source of water. The original

public water system including

the existing 50,000-gallon

elevated storage tank was

installed in 1916. Over the years

the city has been using wells

with an apparent abundance of

water pumping anywhere from

388 to 569 gpm. Problems have

been occurring though largely

due to a declining water table in

By Delbert Zerr, KRWA Consultant 

T