The City of Wichita and Kansas Gas Service have taken action to address the detection of methane gas at a south Wichita mobile home park. Earlier this week, Kansas Gas Service detected measurable levels of methane gas during routine surveys at the Lamplighter mobile home park.
As a result, the City of Wichita is working to temporarily relocate occupants of five homes in the northwest corner of the mobile home park.
The source of the gas may be a closed landfill immediately north of the mobile home park at Hydraulic and MacArthur. Recent heavy rainfall has raised the water table and may be contributing to the migration of the landfill gas. The Chapin landfill has been closed since the 1980s and is currently being developed as a city park. Public access to the Chapin site will be restricted until the situation is resolved.
“Although the levels detected are relatively low, it is still necessary to take a very cautionary approach to the situation,” Public Works Director Chris Carrier said. “We are working closely with Kansas Gas Service and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to ensure the safety of the residents and remediation of this problem.”
Corrective action by the City of Wichita, KDHE and Kansas Gas Service will include digging a trench around the perimeter of the mobile home park and installing vents to dissipate the gas.
Kansas Gas Service has determined that the detected gas is not natural gas from its service lines, and is believed to originate from another source.
Kansas Corporation Commission regulations prohibit Kansas Gas Service from restoring service to the residents until the methane gas has been eliminated and the area is deemed safe.
The City of Wichita will continue to monitor the situation and pursue a long term solution.
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