Ever wonder what happens after you flush? The City of Kansas City, Missouri, has a system of pipes and treatment facilities to transport and treat wastewater called a sanitary sewer system. Wastewater is the used water that goes down toilets, sinks, and drains. The majority of the city is served by a separate sanitary sewer and a separate stormwater system. In these separated systems, one set of pipes carries wastewater and a separate set of pipes carries stormwater.1. Separate Sanitary Sewer System
2. Combined Sewer System
3. Stormwater System

When the City was first built, it was common practice to build sewers to transport both wastewater and stormwater in the same pipe. This type of arrangement is called a combined sewer system. The figure below shows the three types of sewer systems:

 

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Separate Sanitary System
The separate sanitary sewer system, as displayed by the light green pipes in the Urban Wet Weather Flows diagram, collects the wastewater from individual homes and businesses and transports it through a series of pipes to the wastewater treatment plant. At the plant, wastewater is treated and released into a stream or river called the receiving water.

Combined Sewer System The combined sewer system (as shown by the darker blue set of pipes in the diagram) collects wastewater and stormwater in the same pipe system. The combined wastewater and stormwater is carried to the treatment plant for treatment before being discharged to the receiving waters. During heavier storms, some combined wastewater and stormwater is diverted to the receiving waters. This is called a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). Stormwater System The City also has a system of culverts, drains, and pipes to carry stormwater to streams and rivers. Stormwater is rainwater and snowmelt that runs off rooftops, streets, and parking lots. The separated storm sewer system (as shown by the light blue set of pipes in the diagram) collects the rainwater and snowmelt from street catchbasins and roof drains and carries it directly to the receiving waters.

This map delineates Kansas City's major receiving water bodies and watersheds. Click to enlarge

Receiving Waters Each of the three sewer systems described discharge to a receiving water such as a creek, stream or river.