Greenleaf Water System

New water system funded for Greenleaf

The Kansas Department of Commerce has approved a $300,000 KAN STEP grant to fund installation of a totally new water system for the town of Greenleaf. Greenleaf, population 300, is located in southern Washington County in northeastern Kansas.

When driving down some of the brick streets in Greenleaf, you'll notice a constant patching of the street. Why the patches? Well, there's a water line below it - and the city has made many, many repairs on its old steel pipelines. Operator Jerry Baker looks forward to having fewer problems with breaking pipes. "There are quite a few leaks and we are always digging; the water system is in bad shape. We know that replacing the system will be a lot of work but when it's completed, we will have something to be proud of," Baker explains.

When the city met with representatives of Kansas Commerce, they took along a section of pipeline that had been removed due to leaks. "That section of pipeline really opened some eyes," Baker says.

KAN STEP is a self-help program that is funded by the Kansas Department of Commerce through the federally funded Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). Under KAN STEP, local people volunteer labor and services or "sweat equity," while the KAN STEP Grant provides funding for materials and technical services. KAN STEP is an acronym for Kansas Small Towns Environment Program.