The City of Kansas City, Mo., Water Services Department is implementing a pilot project to measure and evaluate the performance of green solutions within a portion of the Middle Blue River Basin.
This pilot project is believed to be the largest project using green solutions for combined sewer overflow control currently being planned for construction in the United States. It represents just one component of the City’s commitment to use green solutions to control runoff as part of the Overflow Control Plan that was submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in January 2009.
Project location
The pilot project will be implemented in an area approximately 100 acres in size that is tributary to a combined sewer outfall. The general area of the project extends from 73rd Street to 77th Terrace, and Holmes Road to The Paseo. In addition to the 100-acre pilot project, the initial work will include field investigations in an adjacent 86-acre control area. However, no green solutions will be constructed in the 86-acre control area as part of the initial pilot project.
Lessons learned from the pilot project will be used in future planning for widespread use of green solutions in 744 acres of the Middle Blue River Basin, including the 86-acre control area.
Green solutions
Green solutions will be used to capture stormwater prior to entering the combined sewer system. Residents and businesses will have the opportunity to review proposed green solutions and offer recommendations for modifications and changes through a series of neighborhood meetings and focus groups.
Possible green solutions that will be considered for this pilot project include:
- Catch basin retrofits in road and street rights-of-way
- Curb extension swales
- Street trees
- Replacement of sidewalks in road and street rights-of-way with permeable pavement
- Replacement of pavement outside of road and street rights-of-way with permeable pavement
- Conversion of roof areas to green roofs
- Stormwater planters.
Next steps
After the field survey is complete, Water Services will proceed with the design of the green solutions and structural repairs to the sewer system. It's anticipated that the sewer renovation construction will begin in summer 2010 and continue into the fall 2010. It's anticipated that the green solutions construction will begin in summer 2010 and continue for two construction seasons.
Because the green solutions will be widespread throughout the pilot project area, residents and property owners will likely only see construction activity near their individual properties for short durations.
Following the completion of construction, the City will maintain the green solutions and monitor their effectiveness in reducing runoff. The City wil
l also work with the EPA’s Office of Research and Development on the monitoring of the green solutions. Information obtained through this project will be used to guide the design of green solutions throughout Kansas City.
Throughout design and construction of the pilot project, the City will be working with residents and business owners to show how improvements can be made on private property to further reduce stormwater runoff.
If you have any questions or would like more information on this important project, please contact the Overflow Control Program at 816-513-0521
or KC-OCPInfo@kcmo.org 
