Not only will the Blue River Biosolids Facility have the latest technology to process human waste into a useful agricultural product, the facility is also being designed using the latest architectural technology. Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology takes the place of traditionally-drawn 2D plans and physical 3D building prototype models. Instead, it allows designers to create a digital, visual representation of a future construction project that includes multiple disciplines (e.g. structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and cost estimating).

A big part of recent construction at the Blue River Biosolids plant is the installation of over 200 helical piles. Chances are these helical piles, while not “piles” in the familiar sense, will be all but forgotten once building foundations are laid, but are undoubtedly unsung heroes.

The City of Kansas City, Missouri made a commitment to sustainable infrastructure decades ago. According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Click the link to watch a video of Suzie Carpenter, Black & Veatch design manager, explaining how recycling is a big part of KC Water's new biosolids project. The former KC Water Blue River solids processing building and incinerator stack have been demolished to...

A putrid smell had called N I-435 by the Blue River home for about as long as anyone can remember. It’s a smell that creeps across the entire highway. Kansas City says that the smell will soon be, mostly, going away.

KC Water is responsible for more than just the clean water that flows into our homes and businesses. KC Water, also known as the City of Kansas City, Missouri Water Services Department, is actually made up of three separate utilities…

The Blue River Biosolids Facility is being delivered as a Design-Build project, rather than going through the traditional Design-Bid-Build process. So, what’s the difference? Every construction project has three phases: Planning, Design and Construction. Until...

It takes more than meets the eye to transition smoothly from an outdated waste system to one that is sustainable, energy-efficient and better protects the public. The entire human waste handling portion of the Blue River Wastewater Treatment Plant campus must be...