Allen Markley’s the man who keeps the water flowing smoothly in Rural Water District No. 2.

When there are problems, they usually happen on the weekends “or it happens in the middle of the night,” Markley said. “But, usually, things go smoothly.”

Allen Markley comes down a ladder inside the Rural Water District No. 2 tower. Markley received the 2004 Rural Water Operator of the Year Award for his work and dedication to the district.

Markley has overseen day-to-day operations of the water district since 1992 and became a certified system operator in 1994.

The Kansas Rural Water Assn. has honored Markley with the organization’s 2004 Rural Water Operator of the Year Award.

Markley assures the district’s 430 customers receive good water. The district provides water to people living in the Pleasant Grove area and past Baldwin Junction, which is along U.S. Highway 59 between Lawrence and Ottawa.

The district annually receives 38 million to 44 million gallons of water from Clinton Lake. Markley said the city of Lawrence is paid by the district to treat the water.

“We don’t have a waiting list right now,” he said. “That’s good because we’ve had them in the past and we’re good financially. So, we’re not looking for customers.”

The district may not need customers now. But that hasn’t always been the case.

John Metsker, left, a longtime Douglas County farmer and Rural Water District No. 2 board member, and Allen Markley have helped bring recognition to the Douglas County water district.

“We had troubles getting people signed up,” said former water district board member John Metsker.

Area residents didn’t think the water district would come to fruition when it was forming in the 1950s, said Metsker, who served on the district’s water board from its inception until he left his position in February.

“But once everything was in place and people saw it did work, then everyone wanted on,” he said.

Residents decided to form the district to help local farmers, Metsker said.

“The Pleasant Grove area doesn’t have any water, and if you do drill for it, you get salty water,” he said.

Metsker said he and several others in the community managed to get a $50,000 government grant to put in a system to pump water. Chlorine had to be added to the water, and the system could pump six to eight gallons a minute, he said.

Watching the district grow over the years and making sure residents receive good water has been a “pleasure” for Metsker.

Allen Markley descends the Rural Water District No. 2 water tower located along U.S. Highway 59. He climbed the tower Tuesday to turn off a heat lamp that kept the pipes inside the structure from freezing during winter.

“It’s good to know you have good water and that you helped with that,” he said.

Markley tests chlorine levels, checking valves and fixing leaks.

He and his wife, Donna, handle paperwork for the district from their home office. District officials have plans to put an office in a new building adjacent to the district’s storage tank and shed.

The board continues to look for ways to upgrade services and conserve water, Markley said.

“There’s not an unlimited supply of it. But we’d like to think there is. So it’s always good to see how you can conserve water,” he said.