A groundbreaking in Wichita Friday marked the beginning of what will be years of improvements and additions to the city’s sewage treatment facilities.
The sewage plant work includes biological nutrient removal improvements, a project that’s been a long time coming. It’s all about improving the quality of the water in the Arkansas River and increasing treatment capacity for growth.
For those living in the area, the project aims to improve the smell.
“We’re doing some things with these improvements, putting lids on the clarifiers, doing some processing things differently that are going to help with the odor control,” Wichita Director of Public Works and Utilities Gary Janzen explained. “That part should be in place by 2026. Spent a lot of time talking to people in the neighborhoods. They’re certainly ready for that to happen.”
The project is being called the second-largest infrastructure investment in Wichita’s history. The price tag of $357 million is second only to the current water treatment plant project. The wastewater treatment improvements will have crews working in the area through 2027.