WICHITA, Kansas — The Wichita City Council has voted unanimously to issue a full notice to proceed (FNTP) to Wichita Water Partners — led by Burns & McDonnell and Alberici Constructors for the Wichita Northwest Water Facility — for final design and construction of the city’s state-of-the-art water treatment facility

The project, which is the largest infrastructure project in Wichita’s history, replaces the City’s 80-year-old water treatment plant. Utilizing a progressive design-build delivery method, the project team’s proactive planning efforts enabled the City to lock in pricing early in the design process — nearly $14 million below the City’s budget for the project.

“We’ve been pleased with the progress of the project,” said Alan King, Public Works Director for the City of Wichita. “This step allows Wichita Water Partners to move forward into full construction. We have been fortunate to realize significant cost savings and move construction of the facility forward sooner than originally anticipated.”

Wichita Water Partners worked closely with the City of Wichita to secure nearly $280.9 million in federal financing to fund the new treatment plant. This favorable financing, secured during the 2018 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (WIFIA) program application process, will ensure that the City of Wichita will be able to provide reliable, potable water to its citizens, industries, and surrounding communities.

Through WIFIA, the low-interest loan program will allow debt payments to be deferred until five years after construction is complete, saving ratepayers an estimated $97 million compared to traditional municipal bond issuance. The WIFIA loan is the first for Kansas and the largest drinking water loan since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the program in 2014.

The project will provide safe drinking water in normal and emergency operations, securing the future of high-quality, reliable drinking water.

“This facility will meet the needs of this vibrant and growing community for many years to come,” says Brian Meier, manager of the Wichita office for Burns & McDonnell and local lead of the Wichita Water Partners team. “We are thrilled to play a part in the latest evolution of Wichita’s critical infrastructure, allowing employers and institutions to invest confidently in our community.”

Pre-construction activities to prepare the site started in April. The project held a formal groundbreaking in late October.

For more information on the project visit wichitawaterworks.com.

About Wichita Water Partners

Wichita Water Partners is built around the design capabilities and construction leadership of Burns & McDonnell, Alberici and HDR – supported by strong local design and construction partners. Wichita Water Partners team members employ approximately 1,000 people who call Wichita home. Our team is rooted in the Wichita community and is committed to the successful delivery of the Northwest Water Facility and associated economic growth in Wichita. To learn more about the project and the team, visit WichitaWaterWorks.com.