Dirty Water, Big Budget, Big Questions | Wichita News

Wichita News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 25, 2026 · 1m

Salina City just greenlit a $2 million water main replacement — but not everyone’s on board. Residents like Sheree Spratlen, who’ve been getting rusty, dirty water for years, say the city’s brushing off their concerns, insisting safety is fine even if the water looks bad. The contract went to Diehl Enterprises Inc., a company residents fear lacks experience with full-line replacements and could blow the budget again — a pattern that’s already raised alarms. While Diehl denies the criticism, the move has deepened distrust between locals and city officials, sparking fears of delays and extra…