Project Spotlight: City of Washington Completes Major Water Improvement Project

The City of Washington has completed a major water infrastructure improvement project, providing residents with a more reliable water distribution system, fewer service interruptions, and improved fire protection.

The City of Washington celebrated the completion of its water improvement project with a ribbon cutting in June 2021. (Courtesy Photo.)

Replacing Aging Infrastructure

Located at the intersection of Kansas Highway 15 and U.S. Highway 36, the City of Washington serves as the county seat of Washington County. Before the project, nearly 80% of the city's water distribution system dated back to its original installation in 1914.

The aging cast-iron water lines had exceeded their useful life, leading to frequent leaks, water main breaks, and costly street repairs needed to access damaged infrastructure.

Improving the water system became a top priority for the community, but the project required significant financial investment.

Funding the Project

The City of Washington secured multiple funding sources to make the project possible, including:

• $600,000 through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce

• $6.3 million USDA Rural Development loan

• $1.2 million USDA Rural Development grant

• $200,000 in City of Washington funds

These combined investments allowed the city to replace aging infrastructure while minimizing the financial impact on local residents.

Modernizing the Water System

The completed project included several major infrastructure improvements designed to increase system reliability and efficiency, including:

• Installation of new water lines

• Replacement of fire hydrants

• Installation of an automated meter reading system

When the city's CDBG application was submitted in 2018, Washington had experienced 58 pipe failures over the previous five years. The new system is expected to significantly reduce maintenance needs and improve long-term reliability.

"The project has provided upgrades to our water supply system with decreased leaks and line breaks, along with less waste of precious resources. It has also provided improvements to fire protection," said Caroline Scoville, City of Washington EMT.

Strong Partnerships Led to Success

Several organizations partnered to help complete the project, including:

• BG Consultants of Manhattan, Kansas (engineering)

• Orr Construction Management of Raytown, Missouri (construction)

• Kansas Rural Water Association (rate study analysis)

• CES Group P.A. Engineering Consultants of Marysville (Low-to-Moderate Income Survey)

The North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) provided project planning assistance, grant writing, and project administration throughout the process.

The project took approximately two years to complete. Although original estimates exceeded $8 million, final project costs came in under budget.

"The upgrades to the system were funded by USDA and CDBG projects, including grant funding and low-interest loans. This provided significant cost savings to the citizens over the life of the project, which ultimately affects quality of life for our residents," Scoville said. "The North Central Regional Planning Commission staff was extremely helpful working on this project and provided valuable knowledge and assistance."

To learn more about funding opportunities available for community infrastructure projects or to discuss a local project need, contact the NCRPC Community Development staff.