Keep Out the Rain was a voluntary program to help property owners fix improper plumbing connections that contribute to the overflow of diluted sewage into our environment and sewage backups in homes and businesses. For a limited time, KC Water partnered with property owners to repair plumbing connections. The only cost to the property owner wastheir time. Keep Out the Rain is part of Kansas City's largest infrastructure investment, the Smart Sewer program, focused on reducing the volume of sewer overflows from the City’s sewer system. The Smart Sewer program is a multidecade effort to protect public health and our natural environment.

When we experience heavy rain storms, large volumes of rainwater enter Kansas City’s sewer system through improper plumbing connections. This rainwater can overwhelm our sewer system – causing devastating sewage backups in basements and forcing diluted sewage into our neighborhoods, local streams and rivers. Additionally, this rainwater must be treated, driving up the treatment and maintenance costs of our wastewater system.

One way to reduce the amount of rainwater entering our sewer system is to fix improper plumbing connections that allow rainwater to directly enter our city’s sewer system. Keep Out the Rain gives property owners, within the program area, the opportunity to have their plumbing connections evaluated. If an improper connection was identified, and it is cost-effective to correct, the connection was eligible to be fixed by a licensed, pre-qualified plumber.

To maximize return on investment for all wastewater utility customers, KC Water identified areas throughout Kansas City where fixing improper plumbing connections would provide a cost-effective solution to reduce our sewer overflow problem.

As the program is winding down, property eligibility will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis based on cost-effectiveness and impact. To express interest in participation, reach out to the project team at 816-513-0200.

Not at this time. This program is currently focused in areas where the greatest need has been identified for reducing sewer overflows to meet regulatory requirements. The results of work completed in the current program areas are intended to benefit all rate payers by reducing the overall cost of future system improvements needed to meet the regulatory requirements of the Smart Sewer program. Based on the results of the program in the current program areas, and availability of future funds, the City may expand the program to other parts of the city.

If a cost-effective fix is identified, the program team will make a selection from a list of licensed, prequalified plumbers to complete the work.

Rest assured, our program team is committed to protecting your property. If your property is selected, repairs will be made in a way that strives to maintain the existing drainage in and around your home or building.

Plumbing repairs are under warranty for one year from the date the work is completed.

Keep Out the Rain was part of Kansas City's largest infrastructure investment, the Smart Sewer program, focused on reducing the volume of sewer overflows from the City’s sewer system. The Smart Sewer program is a 30-year effort to protect public health and our natural environment. The improvements being made through the Keep Out the Rain program were funded by the wastewater fees collected through monthly water utility bills. A portion of the monthly wastewater charges collected goes toward repairing and maintaining our sewer system.

Through the Keep Out the Rain program, KC Water was identifying and correcting improper connections to our sewer system. Because the wastewater system serving our community is a network that functions as a whole, taking corrective steps in one part of the system leads to benefits across the overall system. Less rainwater in the sewer system reduces operating costs and the need for costly expansion projects, the frequency of devastating basement backups, and pollution entering our neighborhoods and environment.