Wet Weather Solutions Program

Wet Weather Home
System Overview What is the Problem?
How Citizens
Can Help
Public Participation Resources
Contact
Us

In the older parts of Kansas City, the same pipe that carries wastewater also carries stormwater. This is called a Combined Sewer System. The practice of combining systems was common practice across the country from the mid 1800s to the 1970s. Combined Sewers were built in most industrialized communities during that time because it as more economical to build one pipe rather than two.

More Information

Click to enlarge

Location
Like many cities, Kansas City's combined sewers are primarily located in the older areas of the city. The area served by combined sewers is approximately 56 square miles from State Line east to the Blue River and the Missouri River south to 85th Street. This map shows the area served by the Combined Sewer System.

How a Combined Sewer System Works
Combined sewer systems are designed to carry both wastewater and stormwater. The combined sewer pipe is connected to a diversion structure. In dry weather, the pipe carries only wastewater to the structure and on to the treatment plant. If it is raining, the pipes also carry stormwater. Diversion structures are located at key points in the system. When storm flow is too great, a mixture of sewer and storm water is diverted to the stream. Some flow is still carried to the treatment plant. The City has approximately 200 diversion structures with many different types of designs to divert the excess flow. One type of diversion structure is a weir wall. A weir wall is a

half wall in the diversion structure that holds the wastewater in the pipe and diverts it to the treatment plant during dry weather. When it rains, the stormwater mixed with wastewater flows over the wall and discharges to a nearby stream or river. These overflows are called Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).

See how a diversion structure operates.