Water Services updateand

annual water quality

For more than 125 years, Kan-

sas City, Mo., Water Services

Department (WSD) has been

dedicated to providing the best

water possible.

Our dedicated staff tests drinking wa-

ter for more than 300 contaminants. The

EPA requires testing for 181. The Missouri

Department of Natural Resources sets the

state regulations for drinking water con-

tamination. We meet or exceed every one.

Staff also performs hundreds of wastewater

tests and stream tests annually. WSD is com-

mitted to protecting water resources in the

City’s watersheds. Management decisions to

protect these resources are aided by water

quality monitoring data to describe the condi-

tion of the resource and to provide an under-

standing of the factors that affect it.

This annual report includes information on

the many important infrastructure projects we

have completed in the last year and informa-

tion on upcoming projects. Readers will also

find our annual water quality report data,

which is required by the state to be provided

to residents annually. We have an unfailing

commitment to the highest standards – yours!

From Terry Leeds, WSD Director:

Managing a state-of-the-art Water Services Department requires relentless attention to every detail.

Your Kansas City, Mo., Water Services Department taps into the best thinking in the country re-garding issues such as testing, safety, environmental concerns and processes. We are an active member of watchdog groups such as the Partnership for Safe Water - a national initiative devel-oped in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Water Works Asso-ciation and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.

Kansas City, Mo., Water Services Department has been municipally owned and managed for more than 125 years. We drink, bathe and wash our blue jeans in the same water you do. We under-stand how important your water services are to you and your family. They’re our services, too.

Contents•Water, sewer bond projects continue•Water Services replaces 28 miles of

undersized water mains•Water Services Laboratory receives high

marks for water testing accuracy•Voters will decide on wastewater bonds in

August•New elevated water storage tank

constructed at Water Supply

•Overflow Control Program projects continue

•Water Quality data table

•Quality from the tap – treatment and testing

•Contaminants

•How hard is my water?

•Source Water Assessment

•Sustainability Success Stories

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WSD is continuing its replacement of under-sized water mains in neighborhoods through-out the City. More than 28 miles of small mains will be replaced during this fiscal year, which will improve water service, enhance fire pro-tection and reduce the number of water main breaks. Many of the mains being replaced are 50 to 60 years old and were installed in neigh-borhoods before annexation by Kansas City.

Construction is underway and will continue throughout the year. Residents who will be af-fected by the projects will be notified, and pub-lic meetings will be held.

“In 1998 and in 2005, the voters approved bonds that allowed Water Services to contin-ue the replacement of undersized mains in the City,” said WSD Director Terry Leeds.“Work has progressed as promised and the depart-ment continues to modernize infrastructure that will enhance service delivery and safety.”

Since 1998, more than 90 miles of undersized mains have been replaced.

Detailed maps showing the project locations are available online at www.kcmo.org/smr2012.

Water Services replaces 28 miles of undersized water mains

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Water, sewer bond projects continue

WSD has planned many capital improvement projects this year to provide residents with the highest quality drinking water and the best cus-tomer service possible.

Customers will be pleased to know that proj-ects funded by the 2005 voter-approved bonds ($250 million for water projects and $250 million for sewer projects) continue through-out the City.

Below are just some of the capital projects that are planned for the near future.

Elevated Water Storage Tank near High-way 291 and I-435 - $2.8 millionA two-million gallon elevated water storage tank and supply pipeline near Highway 291 and I-435 (west of N.E. Sherman Rd.) will be-gin construction later this year. The new tower will improve water service to the area, which has experienced recent residential and com-mercial growth.

First and Second Creek Sewer Projects - $26 millionMore than 52,000 feet of interceptor sewer construction will begin in late 2012/early 2013 in the First and Second Creek Watersheds, lo-cated between I-29 and US-169 and north of MO-152. Adding sewers to this mostly unincor-porated area will open the door to future devel-opment and growth in northwest Kansas City. Two pump stations are also being built to pump the wastewater to existing treatment plants.

The First Creek Interceptor Sewer will be 22,500 linear feet of pipe (15-inch to 36-inch), and the Second Creek Interceptor Sewer will be 29,500 linear feet of pipe (24-inch to 48-inch).

Jackson-Cass Transmission Main - $19 millionThe Jackson – Cass Water Transmission Main final phase was completed in Spring 2012 and the line will be in service later this sum-mer. The transmission main serves the south-east part of our service area, including Lee’s Summit and Raymore.

In February 2012, WSD received a certificate of proficiency for high level accuracy of testing, passing every performance evaluation parameter that it was tested on in 2011.

The lab’s ability to provide high quality analytical services allows WSD to ensure that high quality drinking water meeting all state and federal drinking water safety requirements is delivered to customers.

The analytical capabilities of the lab also allows WSD to effectively monitor environmental water quality as the City continues to expand

its efforts to protect and improve water quality.

“Providing safe, quality drinking water and providing the best analysis possible for our wastewater and stormwater programs is of the utmost importance to us,” said Water Services Laboratory manager David Greene. “We are very excited to continue our dedication to these efforts.”

The EPA requires these performance evaluations for laboratories that test drinking water and perform monitoring analysis of treated wastewater.

The tests are given by EPA performance evaluators, who prepare and send solutions of known compound concentrations to laboratories for analysis. The testing results are then scored against statistically-based performance criteria to determine whether the lab has performed acceptably. The laboratories being evaluated are not told what the actual compound concentrations are until they have submitted their results. Performance evaluations are a central indicator of a laboratory’s competency to analyze water samples.

Water Services Laboratory receives high marks for water testing accuracy

A proposition to authorize $500 million in wastewater bonds has been approved by the City Council for a citywide vote on Aug. 7.

These bonds would primarily fund projects for the City’s Overflow Control Program (OCP) as mandated by the US Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA). The OCP is the City’s 25 year plan to make sewer system improvements and reduce pollutants discharged into our area streams and waterways.

To comply with the Federal Consent Decree ne-gotiatied with the EPA for the implementation of the OCP, the City intends to fund the program with 50 percent bonds and 50 percent cash. The sewer bond authorization on the ballot in August is consistent with this funding plan and recently enacted and planned future rate in-creases will go toward paying off the bonds. Without authorization of these bonds, the City would need to raise additional cash through significant, additional rate increases to fund OCP projects.

Kansas City’s Overflow Control Program was developed to reduce overflows from the com-bined sewer system and prevent overflows from the separate sewer system. The City’s Federal Consent Decree is 25 years, the longest ever negotiated by a municipality. The goal is to re-duce the amount of combined sewer overflows flowing directly into waterways by 88 percent and eliminating sanitary sewer overflows during a five-year rainfall event.

“We have nearly completed our first major proj-ect, a 100-acre green solutions pilot project in the Middle Blue River Basin near 75th Street and Troost Avenue,” said Water Services Direc-tor Terry Leeds. “The carefully developed long-term infrastructure investments in the Consent Decree will greatly reduce the volume and fre-quency of overflows and will serve our residents for generations.”

The $500 million sewer bonds will provide funding for projects at wastewater treatment facilities and pump stations, and for sewer im-provements and green solutions.

The Overflow Control Plan and Consent De-cree are posted on the City’s Water Services Web page, www.kcmo.org/water, and progress on the Overflow Control Plan will be posted as work continues.

The City’s wastewater system collects and treats wastewater from residential and commercial buildings. The wastewater system protects pub-lic health and the environment and complies with state and federal regulation. Kansas City’s system dates to 1860’s and today has more than 2,800 miles of combined and separate sanitary sewers.

“Not unlike most wastewater infrastructure throughout the country, Kansas City’s aging in-frastructure is in need of major repair, rehabili-tation or replacement,” said Leeds. “After years of deferring maintenance and infrastructure replacement, Kansas City must move to cor-rect the deficiencies in the wastewater system to protect public health and the environment and ensure regulatory compliance.”

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A new $1.4 million, 150,000 gallon elevated

water storage tank, also called house service

tank, was constructed at the Kansas City, Mo.,

Water Services Water Treatment Plant.

The project was funded by the 2005 voter-

approved $250 million water bonds. This

is just one of several projects at the Water

Treatment Plant that will upgrade and improve

treatment plant operations.

The new house service tank stores water that

is used to cool pumps, aid in water treatment

production and provide water service to the

treatment plant. It will replace the current storage

tank that was built in 1925, when the plant was

originally constructed.

“The tank that was built in 1925 had exceeded

its designed life expectancy and the 75,000

gallon capacity of the tank was no longer

sufficient for plant operations,” said Water

Supply manager Mike Klender. “The new tank,

which was designed by Water Services Engineers,

will ensure that we can meet customers’ needs

during peak water use demands.”

The new tank installation and removal of the old

tank was completed by winter 2011.

New elevated water storage tank constructed at Water Supply

Voters will decide on wastewater bonds in August

Kansas City’s Overflow Control Program (OCP) was developed to meet regulatory requirements related to reducing overflows from the combined sewer system and preventing overflows from the separate sanitary sewer system. The City and its regulatory partners have agreed to meet those objectives over a 25-year time period by completing a planned list of improvements targeted at capturing for treatment 88 percent of combined sewer flows and eliminating sanitary sewer overflows up to a five-year rainfall event.

About 58 square miles within Kansas City are served by combined sewers. This area is generally bound by the Missouri/Kansas state line on the west, 85th Street on the south, the Blue River on the east, and the Missouri River on the north. The area served by the combined sewer system is subdivided into seven principal basins: Brush Creek, Gooseneck Creek, Lower Blue River, Middle Blue River, Northeast Industrial District, Town Fork Creek and Turkey Creek/Central Industrial District. The Charles B. Wheeler Municipal Airport is also served by a combined sewer system.

In 2011, work was conducted to meet the requirements of the first Consent Decree. The activities included components in the following categories:

•PublicInvolvementandOutreach•GreenInfrastructureProjects•CombinedSewerOverflowControlMeasures•SeparateSanitarySewerOverflowControl

Measures•ImplementationofDisinfectionTechnology

at Wastewater Treatment Plants

Green Infrastructure ProjectsThe OCP includes funding dedicated to developing green infrastructure projects and partnerships in the combined sewer basins. The first project, the Middle Blue River Basin Green Solutions Pilot Project, is under construction.

The Middle Blue River Green Solutions Pilot Project involved rehabilitating the existing sewer system and using green solutions to capture stormwater before it enters the combined sewer system to reduce the amount of sewer overflows. Green solutions are an alternative to more traditional gray infrastructure such as

storage tanks and pumping facilities, and could save Kansas City’s ratepayers money. There are more than 300 property owners in the 100-acre pilot project area. The project is generally bounded on the north by 73rd Street, on the south by 76th Terrace, on the east by Holmes Road, and on the west by The Paseo.

Construction activities in the Middle Blue River Basin Green Solutions Pilot Project conducted in 2011 included repairing damaged and leaking combined sewers and the installation of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce flows in the collection system.

Sewer rehabilitation work in the Middle Blue River Basin Green Solutions Pilot Project was completed at the beginning of 2011. Approximately 17,000 feet of sewer line and more than 70 manholes have been repaired or replaced. The work included rehabilitation of the existing combined sewer system using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) for the public sewer lines. Trenchless technology, such as CIPP, pipe bursting or open excavation was used for sanitary service laterals.

Construction of the stormwater BMPs began in May 2011. Once complete, approximately 150 BMPs will be installed in the 100-acre pilot project area.

Work accomplished in 2011 is summarized as follows:

•Nearly 6,700 linear feet of deterioratedsidewalks replaced.•Nearly 5,100 linear feet of new porous

sidewalk installed. This application of porous sidewalk serves to simultaneously provide a new walking surface (where previous sidewalk was seriously deteriorated) and incorporate a method to minimize surface runoff and allow the rainfall to return to the natural environment.•Nearly 10,000 linear feet of curbing was

installed, where previously no curbing existed.•176propertiesreceivednewdrivewayaprons.•12curbinletswereaddedorreplaced.•StormwaterBMPs,ofvariousdesigns,were

Overflow Control Program projects continue

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installed:o 73 rain gardenso 39 bioretention basinso 36 curb inletso Plantings at three rain gardens along

76th Street. The detained water will be infiltrated by plants or slowly released into the collection system.

•Storage facilities for stormwaterwerealsoinstalled, detaining an estimated 373,000 gallons of water for delayed release back into the collection system.

Pervious Sidewalk installmentsPervious pavement allows water to flow through the sidewalk into a gravel base below the sidewalk reducing stormwater runoff. The first installment of pervious concrete was installed along 77th Street between Holmes Road and Troost Avenue as part of the Middle Blue River Basin Green Solutions Pilot Project.

This is the first pervious sidewalk to be installed to

reduce combined sewer overflows in Kansas City in accordance with the Federal Consent Decree. The sidewalk was installed Summer 2011.

The majority of structural or hardscaped project components were completed during 2011. Three of the project BMPs were planted in fall 2011 for monitoring purposes through the winter. Landscaping resumed in spring 2012 with planned completion of construction mid-summer 2012. Construction in a developed area with varying land uses (residential and commercial) has illustrated the challenges of working around utilities and handling the uncertainties of underground conflicts. To date, residents have been patient with the progress as they appreciate of the improvements in their neighborhood.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Disinfection ProjectsThe third wastewater disinfection project required by the 2010 Federal Consent Decree for Water

Services Department was placed in service at the Birmingham Wastewater Treatment facility.

The disinfection system utilizes sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to kill bacteria in the wastewater. The wastewater is then de-chlorinated before being discharged into the Missouri River.

In addition to the disinfection system, additional facility upgrades will be completed by January 2013 at the Birmingham Wastewater Treatment Plant. A total of $7.9 million is being invested into the plant.

The disinfection system operates April 1 through Oct. 31, the water recreation season, when people use Missouri’s bodies of water for recreational activities.

The Rocky Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed in Fall 2011. In lieu of adding disinfection to the Northland Mobile Home Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, wastewater is now pumped to Rocky Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant to maximize the treatment process.

Disinfection systems will be added to all wastewater treatment plants by the end of 2013.

Upcoming projectsOver the next year, additional projects as part of the OCP to be completed include:

•MiddleBlueRiverBasinGreenSolutionsPilotProject –The majority of major construction elements are expected to reach significant levels of completion, with the majority of plantings taking place in spring 2012.•Small Sewer Rehabilitation: Middle Blue

River – Contracts are expected to be executed for field investigations and engineering design phase services.•Inflow and Infiltration Reduction in the

Round Grove Creek Watershed (South of the Missouri River) – This project will reduce the flow of rainwater that gets in the sanitary sewer system.

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Crews installed 5,100 of pervious sidewalk in the Middle Blue River Basin Green Solution Pilot Project Area. Pervious pavement allows water to flow through the sidewalk into a gravel base below the sidewalk reducing stormwater runoff. This was the first pervious sidewalk to be installed to reduce sewer overflows in Kansas City.

Water Quality Data Table 2011PARAMETER DATE TESTED VIOLATION UNITS MCL MCLG KCMO AVG KCMO RANGE

General Chemistry

Chlorine (Chloramine) 2011 NO ppm MRDL=4 MRDLG=4 2.1 1.5 - 2.6

Cyanide 2011 NO ppb 200 200 8 ND - 53

Fluoride 2011 NO ppm 4 4 0.94 0.23 - 1.32

Nitrate (as N) 2011 NO ppm 10 10 1.3 ND - 2.8

Organics

Atrazine 2011 NO ppb 3 3 0.21 ND - 1.55

Metals

Antimony 2011 NO ppb 6 6 ND ND

Barium 2011 NO ppm 2 2 0.012 0.006 - 0.018

Chromium 2011 NO ppb 100 100 3 ND - 4

Selenium 2011 NO ppb 50 50 1 ND - 3

Radiological

Radium 226+228 2011 NO pCi/L 5 0 ND ND

Distribution System Testing

Lead & Copper Rule Household Testing: 90th percentile samples exceeding AL

Lead 2010 NO ppm AL=0.015 0 <0.001 0

Copper 2010 NO ppm AL=1.3 1.3 0.005 0

Total Coliform Rule Testing:

Turbidity (Highest Single Turbidity - Feb. 2011) 2011 NO NTU 0.08 0.03 - 0.10

Turbidity (Monthly % below 0.3 NTU) 2011 NO % <95% 100 100 -100

Total Coliform: (Highest Month Measured was July 2011)

2011 NO % >5% 0.23 0 - 1.59

Disinfection By-Products Testing:

TTHMs (Total trihalomethanes) 2011 NO ppb 80 n/a 8.4 4.0 - 14.2

HAA5 (Haloacetic acids) 2011 NO ppb 60 n/a 17.1 12.9 - 24.3

Disinfectants

Avg. Quarterly Disinfectant Residual Level (Chloramine as Cl2)

2011 NO ppm MRDL=4 2.4 2.2 - 2.6

Unregulated

Alkalinity 2011 NA ppm 32 21 - 80

Ammonia (as N) 2011 NA ppm 0.2 0.07 - 0.72

Calcium 2011 NA ppm 40 30 - 56

Cryptospridium 2011 NA oocysts/L ND ND

Giardia 2011 NA cysts/L ND ND

Magnesium 2011 NA ppm 5 4 - 7

pH 2011 NA s.u. 9.7 9.2 - 10.5

Sodium 2011 NA ppm 58.0 44 - 69

Sulfate 2011 NA ppm 174 91 - 291

Total Hardness (as CaCO3) 2011 NA ppm 116 88 - 186

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Water Quality Data Table 2011

Table Information The table represents analytical results for regulated compounds, none of which were detected at levels of regulatory concern. Each column shows the results of tests on our finished water. They

represent the average and range of all values measured for each compound and the maximum and minimum levels detected in all measurements. This report is based upon tests conducted by Kansas City, Missouri Water Services. Terms used in the Water Quality table and in other parts of this report are defined here:

Action Level or AL: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal or MRDLG: The level of a disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Table Key AL = action level MCL = maximum contaminant level MCLG = maximum contaminant level goal NA = not applicableND = not detectedNTU = nephelometric turbidity units oocyst = The presence of Cryptosporidium in water is measured by counting the number of oocysts present in the water. pCi/L = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) ppm = parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) ppb = parts per billion or micrograms per liter (ug/L) S.U. = standard unit

Source in Drinking water Health Effects

water additive used to control bacteria Some people who drink water containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could expect irritating effects to their eyes and/or nose or stomach discomfort.

discharge from steel/metal factories, fertilizer factories, plastic factories Some people who drink water containing cyanide well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience nerve damage or problems with their thyroid.

erosion of natural deposits, discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories, water additive which promotes strong teeth

Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pains and tenderness of the bones. Fluoride in drinking water at half the MCL or more may cause mottling of children’s teeth, usually in children less than nine years old. Mottling, also known as dental fluorosis, may include brown staining

and/or pitting of the teeth and occurs only in the developing teeth before they emerge from the gums.

runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, erosion of natural deposits

Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill, and if untreated, could die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

runoff from herbicide used on row crops Some people who drink water containing atrazine well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their cardiovascular system or reproductive difficulties

found in natural deposits, often used as a flame retardant Some people who drink water containing antimony well in excess of the MCL over many years may develop cancer.

discharge of drilling waste, erosion of natural deposits,discharge from metal refineries

Some people who drink water containing barium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience an increase in blood pressure.

discharge from steel and pulp mills; Erosion of natural deposits Some people who use water containing chromium well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience allergic dermatitis.

discharge from petroleum refineries, metal refineries and mines; erosion of natural deposits

Selenium is an essential nutrient, but some people who drink water containing selenium in excess of the MCL over many years could experience hair or fingernail loss, numbness in fingers or toes, or problems with their circulation.

erosion of natural deposits Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

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The drinking water in Kansas City has been rated by a national magazine as one of the cleanest in the nation. The job of providing high quality drinking water requires water treatment plant operators to be on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The operations staff must constantly ad-just the treatment process based upon chang-ing conditions in the river. The operations staff and laboratory work together to monitor the water quality and to provide clean and safe drinking water for all customers.

Water from the Missouri River is taken in through a series of bar and mesh screens to remove large debris from the river. The river water is mixed with well water as needed to moderate temperature at certain times of the year. Chemicals called coagulants are added to the water to remove contaminants. These chemicals bind together silt, dirt, organic mat-ter and other contaminants into particles large enough to settle out of the water by grav-ity. Once these larger particles settle out, the

water is much clearer and ready for the next treatment process.

Lime is used to ‘soften’ the water removing about half of the hardness that is found in the water from the Missouri River. Chloramine is added to disinfect the water and kill germs. After another gravity settling process the water is ready for filtration.

The water passes through a sand filter to re-move all remaining particles and contami-nants. The water is clean and ready for the customer’s tap. However before it reaches the

customer’s tap, the water quality is tested begin-ning with the river, through the treatment pro-cess, and it is tested again as it travels through the distribution pipes throughout the City.

The Water Quality Laboratory samples and tests the drinking water before it leaves the treatment plant. In addition to taking samples from the Missouri River and the water plant, the laboratory collects more than 700 rep-resentative samples from the distribution sys-tem each month. These samples verify that

the quality of the water remains stable as it travels through the distribution system to the customer’s tap. Each time a water main break occurs, the laboratory collects samples after the line has been repaired and put back into service to ensure that the water is not contam-inated. WSD works 24/7 to make sure that water from your tap is safe to drink and ready when you need it.

Our laboratory is certified by the Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources to perform a variety of chemical and microbiological tests.

The lab processes an average of 65 water samples per day. The water that is delivered to customers is tested for 107 different pos-sible contaminants. The data in this report shows that the drinking water in Kansas City, Mo., meets all federal and state requirements. However, WSD goes beyond the required test-ing and provides daily testing on 14 contami-nants that are not required, but serve as ad-ditional indicators of good water quality.

Quality from the tap - treatment and testing

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How hard is my water?Consumers who purchase a dishwasher or a home water treatment unit such as a water softener need to be certain to follow manufacturer’s instructions for operation and main-tenance, and the instructions for setting up or programming these appliances will often ask for the “hardness” of the water supply. Kansas City’s water hardness is 105 ppm (mg equivalent CaCO3/L), which is about 6 grains per gallon.

Hardness is a measure of the mineral content of your water. Kansas City softens the water considerably at the treatment plant, to the point where it is considered only moderately hard on the water hardness scale:

Water Hardness ScaleSoft 0 to 75 parts per million (ppm)Moderately Hard (KCMO - 105 ppm) 75 to 150 ppmHard 150 to 300 ppmVery Hard More than 300 ppm

As water travels over the surface of the land

or through the ground, it dissolves naturally

occurring minerals, and can pick up substanc-

es resulting from the presence of animals or

from human activity. Drinking water, including

bottled water, may reasonably be expected to

contain at least small amounts of some con-

taminants. The presence of contaminants does

not necessarily indicate that the water poses a

health risk.

More information about potential health ef-

fects can be obtained by calling the Environ-

mental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Wa-

ter Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or visiting the

EPA website at www.epa.gov/safewater.

Some people may be more vulnerable to con-

taminants in the drinking water than the gener-

al population. Immuno-compromised persons

such as persons with cancer or undergoing

chemotherapy, persons who have undergone

organ transplants, persons with HIV/AIDS or

other immune system disorders, some elderly

persons, and infants can be particularly at risk

from infections.

These people should seek advice about their

drinking water from their health care provid-

ers. The Environmental Protection Agency and

Centers for Disease Control provide guidelines

on appropriate means to lessen the risk of in-

fection by Cryptosporidium and other micro-

bial contaminants and are available at the EPA

website shown above or at the CDC website

www.cdc.gov/healthywater.

Contaminants

Source WaterAssessment

Beginning in 1996 federal laws put

into place the requirement for Source

Water Assessment Programs in all

states. The Missouri Department of

Natural Resources has identified po-

tential sources of contamination in the

areas surrounding the Missouri River,

which is the water source for Kansas

City. The full inventory of possible

contamination sources can be found

at this website http://maproom.mis-

souri.edu/swipmaps/pwssid.htm us-

ing PWSSID MO- 1010415.

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Water Services installs major green on the Blue

Huge cement structure planned is replaced with a “greener” approach

Kansas City and the Blue RiverThe City of Kansas City Mo., has a long and checkered past when it comes to living in the Blue River Watershed. The Blue River drains a major portion of Kansas City Mo.,

south of the Missouri River, as well as a large part of Johnson County, Kan. In our early years together, Kansas City and the Blue River got along very well, with old photographs from the early part of the 20th Century showing idyllic settings with lush green foliage along the banks of a tranquil stream dotted with casual boaters plying the beautiful waters. Of course that was probably a perfect setting on a perfect day, but the Blue River was an asset to the City.

Congress and the CorpsTo address the hazards presented by the increases in flooding level and frequency, Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers to make flood conveyance improvements on the Blue River in 1970. By the time the funding was appropriated and the planning and design efforts completed, construction did not begin until 1983. Starting at the mouth of the river (where it enters the Missouri River), widening and channelization efforts continued for the next three decades. By 2010, 12 miles of river had been “improved” – though not everyone always agreed with the results. The once beautiful Blue, though not restored to its previous splendor, was somewhat more controlled – reducing the threat to life and property.

Grade control - 53rd to 63rd reachOne consequence of the Corps’ work in the river system was a need to provide “grade control” – or to adjust the “steepness” of the river so that it would not begin down-cutting. A grade control structure was needed in the vicinity of Swope Park, at essentially the end of the Blue River’s multi-decade flood control effort. This structure was planned and designed

to be an enormous barrier across the river, with extensive amounts of concrete to “harden” the area. As details of these plans emerged, the community reacted negatively to the concept, especially due to the more naturally appearing areas of forested bottomland that would be destroyed. Requests were made to re-examine this plan and try to identify a more natural way to accomplish the same goal.

The result was a dramatic shift to a series of lower grade control structures and revetments over a 10 block distance, referred to as the 53rd to 63rd reach. These structures did not form anything like the imposing barrier previously considered, but rather utilized strategically placed rock structures designed to accomplish the needed grade control but in a less intrusive fashion. This allowed the significant stands of bottomland forest to be preserved, while also providing a very nice trail access as described below.

Trail accommodationsBecause of the modifications, the project area was extended to the south of 63rd street into Swope Park, which allowed a strong connection for the new trails to the City’s largest park. This project was able to include the establishment of trails along the river. This was accomplished

by planning ahead so the service roads that needed to access the river, for the placement of rock, were strategically placed to accommodate the trail as well. The result: another important linkage in the developing Blue River Trails system has been completed. The Blue River Trail forms an important “spine” in the regional Metro Green greenway system that seeks to provide an interconnected network of more than 1,000 miles of trails and greenways throughout the seven county metropolitan area.

Solar power opens gates, saves money

The WSD completed its first installation of solar power in 2010. While not a major project, this use of technology still resulted in large savings. The project provided power to open and close two new 32-foot-long gates on a newly constructed access road at the Birmingham Farm Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The needCity staff recognized that a significant amount of traffic traveled through residential areas to access the Birmingham Farm Wastewater Treatment Facility. To improve this situation and provide safer access to 210 Highway, they

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y S U C C E S S S TO R I E S

GREENKC

constructed a new road leading to the facility from the east.

However, the new entrance required gates to secure facility access, but there was no power near where the gates were needed.

Cost comparison: conventional versus solar powerRunning electrical lines to operate the gates and provide lighting would cost an estimated $157,000 to $170,000. The solar alternative came in at $75,000, with no ongoing electrical charges, which resulted in significant savings.

The systemThe solar power system installed is designed to accommodate 25 to 30 truck trips per day, or a total of 50 to 60 daily openings and closings. There is a battery backup system to ensure uninterrupted power for a minimum of seven days. There are also area lights that are activated at dusk and remain on for six hours. After that, the lights are activated whenever a truck approaches, but turn off within five minutes to conserve power.

The solar panel assemblies are 62 inches by 32 inches and each provide 180 watts of power. They are mounted on 20-foot-tall steel poles and are adjustable to maximize orientation to the sun. The lighting is provided by efficient, 40-watt LED lamps. During the lowest solar output time (December), the system will generate three times the energy needed for a typical day of use.

Because the system operates at lower energy levels, there was some concern about ice buildup, which can sometimes cause a problem. To address this issue, a special “EZ Slide” gate was selected. The roller mechanism of this gate is fully enclosed, which should

eliminate the potential of ice buildup that might prevent operation.

Pilot projectBeing the first use of solar power by the WSD, this project holds extra significance. There is future potential for many other solar power applications in WSD operations, especially in remote applications like this where traditional electrical infrastructure is lacking or expensive to access.

New sand filter backwash process significantly

improves performanceKansas City is nationally known for producing top-notch quality drinking water. Messing with a good thing can be risky, but in the interest of continuous improvement, Water Services never rests. That’s why an extensive reworking of the waterworks sand filter backwash system was initiated.

Sand filter backwashing?Sand filter is the term used for the filtering mechanism that water passes through before being distributed to the community. The water treatment plant has three “filter galleries.” Each contains 12 sand filters (50’ x 28’) and collectively produce an average of 115 million gallons of water daily.

The sand filters remove undesirable materials from the water. Some of these materials are extracted from a dissolved state through “flocculation” – the addition of chemicals that cause the materials to solidify into particles. The filters capture these particles and remove them from the water.

Historically, each filter contained seven layers – ranging from rock to fine sand. After 120 hours of use, a filter would need to be washed by forcing water back through the filter to dislodge the particles. This required 500,000 gallons of water each time.

Improving the systemWater Services is installing an improved backwash system that adds air to the backwash process through a piping array under the

filters. This air, in the form of bubbles, improves the washing process and reduces the amount of water needed by nearly half. Because of this improved cleaning efficiency, the filtering process now only requires two layers of sand, instead of the seven used previously. The time between “backwashings” is also extended by 10 hours (to 130 hours), which might not sound like much, but on the scale of this operation, amounts to huge savings.

Time for new filter sandIn the past, a sand filter would last about five years before the filter media would need replacement. The replacement process is labor intensive, requiring four employees, working 40 hours per week, for four months to complete. The improvements to the process will allow the filter media replacement to be accomplished in only two weeks. And now a filter will last 20 years instead of five – resulting in large labor cost savings!

Automation to boot!Because the new process is automated, the process is more stable and controlled. There is no need for an operator to manually manipulate controls to backwash a filter. This will reduce the need for the equivalent of one plant operator position per shift. Producing water is a 24/7 operation, so through automation, the equivalent of six plant operator positions can ultimately be saved with opportunities for their skills to be used elsewhere in the plant.

Energy versus laborIntroducing pressurized air bubbles into the system requires more energy; the exact increase is still being monitored as the retrofits continue. However, the labor cost reductions described above far overshadow the increase in energy costs.

StatusTwo of Water Supply’s three filter galleries have already been completed: Gallery C in 2002 and Gallery B in 2011. Gallery A is currently being installed with an anticipated completion date of late 2012.

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WaterWorks! helps residents save the splash

and save the cash!The City of Kansas City, Mo., working in collaboration with Bridging The Gap, are excited to announce the launch of WaterWorks!, the new water conservation and education component of the EnergyWorks KC initiative. EnergyWorks KC is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Initiative Program, and provides a pool of resources to help property owners in Kansas City, Mo., improve the energy efficiency of their existing buildings. Comparable to EnergyWorks KC, WaterWorks! is a citywide initiative with an emphasis in seven targeted neighborhood areas. These include: Eastwood Hills, Green Impact Zone, Ruskin, Washington Wheatley, Westside, Winnwood-Sunnybrook and the Central Industrial District.

WaterWorks! offers several ways to increase energy efficiency in homes by saving water:

•Free in-home water eco-kits Free in-home water eco-kits include a

massaging showerhead, faucet aerators and a toilet tank bank. Together, this kit can save 64 million gallons of water a year and as much as $200 on residents’ annual water bills. WaterWorks! project managers are distributing 3,200 free eco-kits and will provide free installation of 1,600 of those kits.

•Free downspout disconnections or re-directs Connected downspouts increase pressure on

our City’s combined sewer system capacity. In an effort to reduce the amount of storm water entering the combined sewer system, WaterWorks! offers to disconnect or redirect downspouts at no cost to the homeowner. With a goal of nearly 400 downspout disconnects during its program period, WaterWorks! hopes to divert approximately 2 million gallons of storm water annually from the City’s combined sewer system. Sending water away from residents’ foundations may also provide the additional benefit of alleviating wet basement issues.

•$100 rebates for the installation of high-efficiency toilets

WaterWorks! offers $100 rebates for the purchase and installation of high efficiency toilets. Older toilets use 3 to 3.5 gallons of water per flush. By reducing this amount in half, residents can significantly lower water usage and their water bill. The City could realize savings of nearly 4 million gallons of water through this initiative.

•Rain barrels and rain gardens Rain barrels enable residents to use rain

water to water their plants reducing water use. WaterWorks! will offer 60 completed rain barrels to residents for free. Rain gardens provide another wonderful way to use rainwater naturally while beautifying our city. Through the WaterWorks! program, Kansas City, Mo., will have 12 new rain gardens.

For additional information about the WaterWorks! program, please visit www.bridgingthegap.org. For questions, please contact our WaterWorks! project managers, Gabrielle Haenn (816-561-1061, ext. 136) or Enock Odede (816-561-1061, ext. 137).

Learn additional information about the EnergyWorks KC program by visiting www.EnergyWorksKC.org or www.kcmo.org/ewkc or call 816-531-SAVE.

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4800 E. 63rd StreetKansas City, MO 64130www.kcmo.org/water

This report is provided in accor-dance with mandates from the

Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of

Natural Resources.

Kansas City, Missouri Water Services is funded by user fees.

Produced by the Marketing &Public Relations Division - June 2012

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