KC Water celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Briarcliff Water Treatment Plant on Monday, October 26, recognizing a century of providing clean, reliable drinking water to Kansas City and surrounding communities.
First opened in 1926, the Briarcliff Water Treatment Plant has grown to serve more than 1 million people across 90 communities. As Kansas City’s only water treatment plant, the facility plays a critical role in providing safe drinking water to residents, businesses and communities throughout the region.
“Today, we take time to acknowledge and celebrate the 100 years this historic water treatment plant has been providing a quality product to our customers. Through changes in demand, regulatory requirements, impacts from flooding, along with the challenges of keeping all its critical components operating, this facility has given us much to appreciate. We look forward to maintaining it to get several more years of service out of it,” said KC Water Director Kenneth Morgan
The centennial celebration brought together KC Water employees, elected officials and community leaders to recognize the plant’s history and the people who have kept it operating for the past century. The event featured remarks from Mayor Quinton Lucas, Assistant to the City Manager, Jeff Martin, KC Water leadership, City Council Members Nathan Willett, Darryl Curls and other Kansas City leaders. Following the remarks, attendees enjoyed cupcakes, refreshments and tours of the facility.
While Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II was not able to attend, he provided remarks on the centennial celebration.
“Today, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Briarcliff Water Treatment Plant, a vital part of our community’s infrastructure that provides clean, safe drinking water to more than 1 million people each and every day. For a century, this facility and the dedicated professionals who keep it running have helped protect public health and sustain our region’s growth and prosperity. As we recognize this milestone, let us express our gratitude to the generations of workers who have kept our water flowing and honor their service by providing the support and investment needed to sustain the critical infrastructure our communities depend on for generations to come.”
While the milestone celebrates 100 years of service, it also highlights the importance of investing in Kansas City’s water infrastructure for the next century. Kansas City is one of the few cities of its size relying on a single water treatment plant, with no large, reliable interconnections to neighboring utilities. Maintaining aging infrastructure also requires costly, specialized work, reinforcing the need for a more resilient regional water supply.
To address these challenges, KC Water is advancing plans for the South Resiliency Water Treatment Plant, which would provide additional treatment capacity and strengthen the reliability of the region’s water system. KC Water and the project team are pursuing external funding opportunities to help reduce the financial burden on ratepayers.
For more information about the South Resiliency Water Treatment Plant project, visit kcwater.us/projects/south-resiliency-water-treatment-plant-project.