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KC Water celebrates local students’ water quality project

Posted on May 11, 2021

Students launch a floating wetland

(Kansas City, Mo.) – KC Water may already be working with the next generation of water department engineers. On May 11th, three North Kansas City (NKC) School District students launched a floating wetland project in a pond at 81st and Troost.

Sixth-grade students in NKC’s Students in Academically Gifted Education (SAGE) program needed a student-led project. They began learning about stormwater runoff and decided to create something that would help. They built a floating wetland, a man-made raft that houses native plants and floats on the water’s surface. The soil, roots and plants provide food to fish and helps keep the water clean.

“The students asked KC Water for help with their idea, but they did the research, built the raft and even tested it to see if it would actually float,” said KC Water Curriculum Coordinator Kate Delehunt. “Even though COVID prevented us from doing the launch sooner, I’m really proud of their hard work and determination,” she added.

KC Water provided the equipment for the students to build the floating wetland.

The park near 81st and Troost is one of three areas in the Marlborough Community that received $30 million in green infrastructure improvements as part of KC Water’s Smart Sewer Program.

“It is important that we reduce the sewer overflows and improve water quality in our region. These students are doing their part help improve water quality in Kansas City,” said Terry Leeds, KC Water Director.

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For more information, please contact Heather Frierson, Media Relations Coordinator, at heather.frierson@kcmo.org 816-513-0280.

KC Water maintains and operates water treatment and distribution systems, stormwater management systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems for residential and business customers in Kansas City and for wholesale customers in the Kansas City area. KC Water is primarily funded by fees charged to customers based on their use or impacts on the three utility systems.

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