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KC Water Project Selected as Sustainable Success Story

Posted on December 4, 2015

(Kansas City, Mo.) – Today, KC Water’s “Swope Campus Parking Lot and Sustainable Stormwater Improvements Project” was named a 2015 Sustainable Success Story by the Mid-America Regional Council. The award highlights sustainability programs throughout the region. This year’s focus was on green infrastructure, such as stormwater management.

The Swope Campus Project incorporates stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including bioretention, porous pavements, bioswales and native plantings designed to manage 10-year storm rainfall onsite. It also provides an improved, safe parking area for employees and visitors and creates an outdoor area with walking trails, stormwater runoff retention, energy conservation and green space.

KC Water was one of six local projects named a 2015 Sustainable Success Story by a panel of local judges.

Landscape Architect Lisa Treese and Project Manager Bon Marie Gardner accepted the award on behalf of KC Water. “This recognition supports our commitment to improve the water quality in our streams, lakes, and rivers,” said KC Water Director Terry Leeds.

KC Water Services broke ground on the project in July 2014 with four goals in mind:

  • enhanced campus connections
  • parking lot improvements
  • stormwater runoff reduction
  • water quality education

The facility is open to tours for those wanting to learn more about the possibilities of green infrastructure. This project also sets the stage for future outdoor learning features or “learning labs” that support the award winning KC to the Sea curriculum.

A portion of this project was undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action on behalf of EPA.

For more information, please contact Brooke Givens, Media Relations Coordinator, at brooke.givens@kcmo.org or 816.513.0284.

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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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