(Kansas City, Mo.) – Hundreds of water and wastewater professionals recently gathered in Washington, DC for Water Week 2015 to celebrate the national advancements in clean and safe water and meet with federal regulators and members of Congress to discuss the value of water. The creation of clean water systems was the single most important public health achievement of the 20th Century. It eliminated deadly diseases such as cholera and typhoid and helped extend life expectancy in the United States by 30 years.
“Aging infrastructure is a challenge every city across the country currently faces. Kansas City began building its basic sewer infrastructure more than 150 years ago, and some of that system is still in use today,” said KC Water Services Director Terry Leeds. “That is why we will invest over $1 billion over the next five years in order to safeguard Kansas City’s water quality for future generations, in turn creating thousands of jobs in the region and representing one of the largest infrastructure investments currently taking place in Kansas City.
For Fiscal Year 2016, KC Water Services will undertake 153 water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects, representing a $274.2 million investment.
In order to provide quality wastewater services, KC Water Services maintains nearly 2,800 miles of sewers which deliver almost 72 million gallons of wastewater to six wastewater treatment plants each day. Just as with other cities across the country, KC Water Services is in the process of implementing a $4.5 – $5 billion, 25-year federally-mandated Overflow Control Program (OCP). This program, which aims to improve the water quality of local streams and rivers by reducing the frequency and volume of sewer system overflows, has received national recognition for being among the first to incorporate significant green solutions.
“Thanks to the leadership of the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager, the support of voters who have recently approved water and sewer bonds, and the support of our customers, Kansas City has made an impressive commitment to water infrastructure investment, despite an absence of federal dollars,” added Leeds. “We are thankful for the opportunity to improve Kansas City’s water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure – an investment for today’s residents and future generations.”
To learn more about the coalition of public and private water agencies, business and community leaders, and national organizations united in communicating the importance of water to the economic, environmental, and social well-being of America, please visit: www.thevalueofwater.org.
To learn more about the water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure work taking place in your neighborhood, please visit: www.kcwaterservices.org/projects.
For more information, please contact Kip Peterson, Communications Manager, at kip.peterson@kcmo.org or 816.513.0280.
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KC Water maintains and operates water treatment and distribution systems, stormwater management systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems for residential and business customers in Kansas City and for wholesale customers in the Kansas City area. KC Water is primarily funded by fees charged to customers based on their use or impacts on the three utility systems.
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