Sewer Separation and Inflow & Infiltration Reduction
Kansas City has two kinds of sewer systems: combined and separate. Each can be a source of pollution.
In the combined sanitary system, stormwater and wastewater are collected in the same pipe and routed to a wastewater treatment plant. During heavy rainstorms or when snow melts, some of the wastewater may overflow and go directly to streams and rivers. Smart Sewer is separating portions of the combined sewer system in specific areas where it is cost effective to reduce overflows.
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In the separate system, rainwater and wastewater flow through completely separate pipe systems, one carrying wastewater to a treatment plant and the other taking stormwater to waterways.
However, leaky pipe joints, broken pipes, broken manholes, and illicit pipe connections can lead to infiltration and inflow of rainwater into the wastewater system, overwhelming capacity and causing sewer overflows and backups. Smart Sewer identifies places where stormwater enters the wastewater system and takes steps to correct, repair, rehabilitate or replace sewer systems. Learn more about Sewer Separation and I/I Reduction projects.
Neighborhood Sewer Rehabilitation
Cracked and broken sewer pipes in the combined sewer system that are 12-inches in diameter and smaller have been rehabilitated to restore their flow capacity and reduce the potential of sewer backups. The Smart Sewer Program’s 12 Neighborhood Sewer Rehabilitation projects were completed in 2021. Read a Smart Sewer Story to learn more about Neighborhood Sewer Rehabilitation projects.
Diversion Structure & Sewer Consolidation
As part of KC Water’s Smart Sewer program, diversion structures and sewers in the combined sewer system are being consolidated to reduce the number of places where wastewater is discharged into local streams. Consolidation projects typically result in fewer overflows during smaller rain events. Learn more about Diversion Structure and Sewer Consolidation projects.
Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure helps our community manage stormwater the way nature intended by capturing and utilizing rainwater where it falls. Green infrastructure can take many forms, depending on its location, and can be as large as a community park or as small as a rain garden. Its use in the program is to reduce the amount of stormwater entering the combined sewer system.
It also can improve water quality and reduce flooding, pollution, and trash in our creeks, streams, and rivers. Green infrastructure mimics how nature handles rainwater, increasing infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration in plants, and slowing runoff before entering the combined sewer system. It also replenishes groundwater and sustains plants, trees, and natural habitats while working with gray infrastructure to increase the capacity of our underground pipes. Green infrastructure also helps to filter pollutants from rainwater runoff before it is discharged into our creeks, streams, and rivers, thereby improving their water quality.
KC Water’s Smart Sewer program is constructing a variety of green infrastructure installations in targeted areas throughout the City. Learn more about green infrastructure in Kansas City or view green infrastructure projects.
Pumping, Storage, and Conveyance
KC Water’s Smart Sewer program is working on pumping and conveyance projects throughout our sewer systems to increase the amount of flow that can be conveyed to one of the City’s six wastewater treatment plants for treatment. These projects consist of pump station upgrades to increase capacity and reliability, as well as force main and relief sewer improvements to enable more flow to our wastewater treatment plants and reduce sewer overflows. Underground storage and conveyance pipes, above-ground storage tanks, open storage basins, and in-line storage facilities allow water to be held for a time and then released into the system once a storm passes and sewer flows recede. Learn more about Pumping, Storage, and Conveyance projects.
