11.4.20
Groundbreaking Held for Northwest Water Facility
WICHITA, KS – A groundbreaking for the new Northwest Water Facility was held Thursday, October 22.
“Water is our most essential resource and finding a way to safeguard it for generations to come is crucial to our quality of life, growth and economic development,” said Alan King, City of Wichita director of public works.
The new water plant, located east of the intersection of 21st St. and Hoover Rd. near the Sedgwick County Zoo, will replace Wichita’s 80-year-old water treatment facility and supply water to nearly 500,000 residents. The facility provides water to many municipalities in Sedgwick County, including Eastborough, Rose Hill, Benton, Kechi, Andover, Derby, Valley Center, Bentley and Water Districts 1, 3 and 8.
“I’m confident in saying this is the most important thing public funding can be used for in today’s world,” said Kathy Sexton, city manager of Derby.
Wichita Water Partners is built around the design capabilities and construction leadership of St. Louis-based Alberici and Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell, along with a team of strong local design and construction partners. Wichita Water Partners team members employ approximately 1,000 people who call Wichita home.
“This plant will produce the water I drink, my family drinks, my friends and neighbors drink,” said Brian Meier, the local lead for the Wichita Water Partners team from Burns & McDonnell. “I’m personally committed to the quality and execution of this project.”
Wichita Water Partners submitted a final guaranteed maximum price of $494.2 million for the state-of-the-art, full redundant water treatment facility, which will be fully operational in 2025. Ninety-six percent of the project financing will come from long-term, low-interest rate loans from the Kansas State Revolving Fund and the Environmental Protection Agency Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.
“I hope that this strong partnership we’ve developed through this facility is the first among many between the EPA and the City through the WIFIA program,” said Kevin McDonald, senior underwriter for the Environmental Protection Agency’s WIFIA loan program.
Brandon Whipple, mayor of Wichita. 
Kathy Sexton, city manager of Derby. 
Brian Meier, local lead for Wichita Water Partners from Burns & McDonnell. 
Leo Henning, director of environment for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 
Kevin McDonald, senior underwriter for the Environmental Protection Agency’s WIFIA loan program. 
Alan King, City of Wichita director of public works.
To watch the full groundbreaking, including additional comments from Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Deputy Secretary Leo Henning, view the video below.