Under Pressure: Myriad Challenges in Replacing a Critical Water Transmission Main

Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has been providing clean water and electrical services to Kansas City, Kansas, for over 100 years. It serves around 169,000 people across 130 square miles in Wyandotte County. In 2020, BPU was informed that a 24-in. cast iron water main, installed in the 1940s and crossing the Kansas River (river), was exposed due to riverbed scouring. While a temporary solution was installed, its expected lifespan is only five years. Operating two transmission mains is insufficient for community needs, and the Kansas Department of Transportation's (KDOT) 2025 demolition of the 18th Street Expressway Bridge will leave BPU without this crucial asset. To resolve this, BPU is replacing the main using horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The new main crosses challenging terrain, including a rocky hillside, a vital railroad corridor, the river, and a State Superfund site, with installation required before the bridge demolition in early 2025.