KC Water constructed important improvements to the wastewater system in your neighborhood, including separation of the combined sewer system into separate storm and sanitary sewers.

These improvements also included green infrastructure, which helps our community manage stormwater the way nature intended by capturing and utilizing rainwater where it falls. Now complete, the project improved the capacity of the wastewater collection system and reduced the volume of sewer overflows into local waterways as well as the potential for basement backups.

June 22, 2023 Public Meeting Recording

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What’s being done?

KC Water’s improvements to the wastewater system included:

• Constructing approximately 3,000 feet of new storm sewer and inlets to separate the sanitary sewer and storm sewer system.

• Constructing underground stormwater storage and other green infrastructure to reduce runoff to the open creek and improve water quality.

• Rehabilitating existing sewer pipes and manholes that will used as the sanitary sewer system.

Why separated sewers?

In your neighborhood, one sewer pipe carries both wastewater and stormwater: This is called a combined sewer system. When wet weather flows overload the system, the combined sewer system is designed to discharge diluted wastewater directly into local waterways. For this project, KC Water installed a second piping system to separate stormwater and wastewater flows, helping to reduce the volume of sewer overflows into local waterways. This improves water quality while protecting our natural environment and public health.

What was green infrastructure part of this?

Green infrastructure helps our community manage stormwater the way nature intended by capturing and utilizing rainwater where it falls. It decreases the amount of water getting into our sewer system, improves water quality, and reduces flooding, pollution, and trash in our creeks, streams, and rivers. Green infrastructure is also a starting place for other important community improvements, including replacing sidewalks, expanding the tree canopy, and creating new amenities that benefit your community.

What was the timeline?

Construction began in June 2023 and was completed by Spring 2025.

Who did the work?

KC Water was assisted by its program manager, Burns & McDonnell, its design professional team led by CDM Smith; and its construction contractor, Havens Construction.

What was the contract amount?

The total budget of this project was approximately $8,000,000.

Why was the work done?

In 2010, the City of Kansas City, Missouri entered into a federal Consent Decree with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the volume of overflows from the City’s sewer system. KC Water’s Smart Sewer program is a 30-year effort to address this challenge. The Outfall 054 Sewer Separation Project is one of more than 100 projects being implemented by the Smart Sewer program as is required by the Consent Decree.

Questions? To learn more please contact:

KYLE TONJES
Project Manager
Burns & McDonnell
(816) 601-2531
kltonjes@burnsmcd.com 

KIRK BROCK
Resident Project Representative
CDM Smith
(785) 214-8167
brockkj@cdmsmith.com

ERIC MCCORMACK
Field Superintendent
Havens Construction
(816) 226-1933
emccormack@havensco.com