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KC Water earns APWA 2021 Public Works Project of the Year Award

Posted on July 23, 2021

(Kansas City, MO) – KC Water’s CID Green Infrastructure Project has earned The American Public Works Association’s (APWA) 2021 Public Works Project of the Year Award. The winners publicly developed, owned and maintained infrastructure projects that promote excellence in construction management and administration.

The APWA’s 2021 Public Works Project of the Year Award is in the $5 million but less than $25 million category, in the Environment Division.  Here’s a video about the project and a link to the APWA awards announced.

“This is an honor to be recognized. Our teams work hard to find cost-effective sewer overflow control solutions and we make sure those solutions involve green infrastructure. I am proud of the work we are doing to create a healthier and cleaner environment,” said Srini Vallabhaneni, KC Water Smart Sewer Officer.

The Central Industrial District Project is a beautiful addition to the West Bottoms area. This nearly $10 million project is part of our Smart Sewer program that we committed to 10 years ago to reduce the amount of stormwater getting into the combined sewer and causing sewer overflows. The changes include a new drainage system to control stormwater after heavy rains, a boardwalk with native plants and trees and a paved, multi-event space.

“APWA is honored to celebrate the 2021 Projects of the Year awards. The award recipients exemplify infrastructure projects that are planned, designed, constructed, and maintained to advance the quality of life for all in their communities. With the challenges of failing infrastructure across North America, public works projects are critical to rebuilding our resiliency and telling our story to support infrastructure funding. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, our public works heroes continued to deliver on their projects,” said APWA President Mary Joyce Ivers, CPFP, PWLF.

APWA will recognize this year’s Project of the Year Award winners in a video posted to www.apwa.net on Aug. 31.

“The beauty of the Project of the Year Awards is that they highlight the amazing collaborative efforts to build and rebuild America’s infrastructure.  Every year, I am amazed at the innovation and vision the award recipients share to improve quality of life for the public,” said APWA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott D. Grayson, CAE.

Awards are won in four divisions and five categories. The divisions are (1) projects less than $5 million; (2) projects of $5 million, but less than $25 million; (3) projects of $25 million to $75 million; and (4) projects of more than $75 million. The categories are (1) structures; (2) transportation; (3) environment; (4) historical restoration/preservation; and (5) disaster or emergency construction repair.

Projects of the Year for the Small Cities/Rural Communities are awarded to those cities or counties with a population of 75,000 or less and in the same categories of (1) structures; (2) transportation; (3) environment; (4) historical restoration/preservation; and (5) disaster or emergency construction repair.

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

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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.

About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, with an office in Washington, D.C., 63 chapters, and 97 branches throughout North America.

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