Heavy rains impact Kansas City wastewater facilities

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The rains have been just about relentless this week. From flooding to water working down streets, the metro is struggling to remain afloat.

That is additionally true at some metropolis amenities.

Due to the heavy rain, a wave of additional work is now washing into metropolis wastewater amenities.

“After all, folks can see it – of their yards, lawns – the water that’s accumulating,” mentioned Brent Herring, Wastewater Chief Officer with KC Water.

It’s accumulating and overflowing proper into native waterways, together with the Missouri River.

It has crews working additional time at three native amenities within the Riverside and Parkville space.

“When it rains like this, we’re additionally amassing that,” he mentioned. “Now, we’re additionally filling up the pipes so full that it’s obtained to go someplace, as a result of it may’t transfer quick sufficient throughout a torrential downpour.”

In consequence, staff are busy cleansing out these pipes and monitoring every location. They’ve additionally put in bypass pumps to assist.

Herring mentioned that, whereas it’s slightly extra water than standard, it’s nothing to be involved about and it’s simply part of dwelling in an enormous metropolis with outdated, antiquated methods.

“That is very extremely diluted wastewater,” he mentioned. “We’re managing to the very best extent potential in order that, down the highway, volumes are much less as we construct new methods to hold water to the place it must be.”

When there’s overflow like this, it might be tempting to splash within the water on the road and even wade via areas of heavy flooding. Don’t do it!

It’s not a good suggestion. Keep in mind it’s runoff and it’s untreated water. So, you don’t know what’s in it and you may get sick.

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