A Saline County water district that is already under a boil water advisory from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is penalized.

According to a document filed by the Kansas Corporation Commission, Howison Heights has been fined $500 for not complying with an order to make needed repairs to the water district system. Residents complained of chemical burns and brown water from the mismanagement of the system.

The boil water advisory which was issued on Thursday will remain in effect until officials can get a consistently safe sample at the tap. They are attempting to lower the chlorine level that was last measured at 5 times the allowable limit by KDHE

Howison Heights serves about 60 customers in Saline County. More than a third of its customers submitted comments opposing a more than 100 percent rate hike the utility requested in April. Some of those customers complained about insufficient water pressure, water discoloration and a strong chlorine smell in the water. 

In July the district was ordered to make improvements.