Big Plans for Kansas City’s Aging Sewers

As part of Kansas City’s Smart Sewer program, KC Water conducted neighborhood sewer rehabilitation (NSR) projects within the combined sewer system between 2015 and 2021, with a focus on 12-inch diameter and smaller pipes. The projects sought to restore our aging infrastructure to like-new conditions and recover capacity by reducing extraneous flow caused by sewer defects. These extensive rehabilitation projects extended our system’s service life while improving the carrying capacity of the sewer system. A total of 12 NSR projects were completed in six basins of the combined sewer system as part of the program.

NSR projects were specifically negotiated into the City’s Consent Decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an effort to revitalize our aging sewer system in the oldest neighborhoods throughout Kansas City’s combined sewer system —­ portions of which date back almost 150 years and were in desperate need of repair. These projects were comparable in both level of investment and type of work being performed to the public inflow and infiltration reduction projects taking place in the separate sewer system. ­

When excessive defects such as cracks, leaks, and other structural problems exist within the sewer pipes, extraneous flows may enter the combined system, take up the capacity, and result in sewer back-ups in our neighborhoods. NSR projects primarily addressed restoring the structural condition and capacity of small pipes in the combined sewer system, thereby proactively maintaining the system and extending the life of the sewer assets.

Small Repairs, Significant Impact

NSR projects focused on rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure improvements like sewer manholes and pipes 12-inch diameter and smaller to restore sewer capacity and reduce the potential for basement backups above the first stormwater inlet. In the areas where rehabilitation was performed, the collection system has been restored to like-new conditions.

From Concepts to Completion

To begin this significant rehabilitation effort, the Smart Sewer program first had to evaluate the connectivity of our underground sewer pipe network and then determine the condition of our 12-inch and smaller pipes throughout the combined sewer system. During the initial phase of each project, field crews used closed circuit television (CCTV) to evaluate sewer mains and inspect associated manholes. More than 400 miles of our combined sewer system was inspected using CCTV.

The design professionals then analyzed the inspection results for each of the six basins in the combined sewer system and prepared recommendations for which sewers to rehabilitate and what repair technologies should be used. The design team then completed the rehabilitation plans and projects were bid for construction.

During construction, crews were careful to keep disturbances to a minimum in the residential areas most affected by NSR improvements. In addition to warnings of potential noise, road closures, and occasional service disruptions, contractors communicated any other project updates with public meetings, door hangers, letters, and face-to-face conversations to keep residents up to date, block by block.

Smart Solutions: Trenchless Technology

This sewer rehabilitation work was performed through either open-cut excavation or the use of trenchless technology, such as cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) and pipe-bursting, to restore our aging sewer system in a way that was most cost-effective, efficient, and minimally disruptive.

Acknowledgments & Accolades

Programs of this scale, importance, and community impact undergo several phases of public outreach and engagement throughout the design and construction process for each project. The 12 NSR projects were no exception, as KC Water conducted dozens of public meetings and mailed thousands of project notification materials to affected neighborhoods throughout Kansas City. KC Water appreciates the support and patience of our community as the Smart Sewer program works to complete these important projects.

All NSR projects were completed by the end of 2021, with more than 125 miles of pipe restored to like-new conditions in our oldest neighborhoods within the combined sewer system. Learn more about other Smart Sewer program projects happening across Kansas City.