When the city of Hillsboro had an open house for its first water-treatment plant in 1982, the headline on the souvenir brochure read: "Finally! Water Hillsboro can be proud of." The statement spoke to the huge improvement residents would experience from the hard, off-tasting stuff they had lived with since the first ground well released water directly into the city system.
The changes delivered by the newly expanded and upgraded water plant won't be as dramatic to the average consumer. The water quality has been pretty good over the past 24 years. But that shouldn't minimize the importance of the current project for Hillsboro's present and future.
Water connoisseurs may notice an improved taste in the water, and by meeting the current high standards set by the Enviromental Protection Agency, the new water will be even safer than safe.
But the significance for Hillsboro is that it now has a water plant that is actually a tool for future economic and residential growth. Providing a reliable and plentiful supply of good, clean water into the foreseeable future is an asset many small town in Kansas simply cannot promise.
We commend our city leaders for their forward thinking and their determination to see this monumental project through to completion. -DR
