Receiving waters
A receiving water is a creek, stream, river, lake, or other water course that receives treated or untreated wastewater or stormwater. Watershed approach
In developing a plan to control sewer overflows, it is important to study the receiving waters and the area that drains to the receiving water body (watershed). | |
The City is taking a watershed approach in selecting overflow controls. When evaluating options for addressing the sewer overflow problem, the City will consider the watershed that receives the overflow. The goal is to reduce the pollutants in the receiving water. To determine how to reduce the pollutants, it is important to understand the make up and source of pollutants. Other potential sources of pollution may include: agricultural runoff, stream modification, urban stormwater runoff, municipal/industrial point sources and sewer overflows. Designated uses
Greater control of pollutants can mean higher costs. The acceptable amount of pollutants varies based on the uses of the river or stream (e.g. boating, swimming fishing, drinking water) and the volume of water in the river or stream that will dilute the pollutants.
Identification of watersheds
The four major watersheds in Kansas City that receive overflows from combined sewers are the Blue River, Brush Creek, Kansas River and Missouri River. Brush Creek is tributary to the Blue River; the Blue River and Kansas Rivers are tributary to the Missouri River. Various small tributary streams that typically have no flow in dry weather receive combined sewer overflows during wet weather and convey it to one of the above primary receiving streams. These tributary streams include: Parish Creek Drainage Basin, Town Fork Creek which discharges to Brush Creek and various unnamed tributaries to the Blue River and Brush Creek. The receiving waters of the Separate Sewer System include the following major watersheds North of the Missouri River: Little Platte River, Platte River, Fishing River and Missouri River. Major watersheds South of the Missouri River include: Blue River, Kansas River, Little Blue River and the Missouri River. |
This map delineates Kansas City's major
receiving water bodies and watersheds.
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