The Blue River Wastewater Treatment Plant is Kansas City’s largest treatment facility, which opened in the early 1960s, and was last upgraded in 1987. The plant processes and cleans approximately 98 percent of the solid waste material in KC’s wastewater. Currently, the facility is under reconstruction to incorporate advanced wastewater treatment processes and technologies, and has been renamed the Blue River Biosolids Facility.

The Blue River Biosolids Facility is an important step in sustainable waste management for Kansas City, Missouri. The new facility will be the first plant of its kind in the Midwest to employ a Thermal Hydraulic Process (THP) to recycle human and domestic waste into useful energy sources – biosolids and biogas. Faster and more efficient, KC Water leaders selected THP technology because it was the best economic and earth-friendly investment for Kansas City. THP recycles domestic waste into usable, Class A biosolids products that may be safely applied to farms and gardens.

From 2018 to present, Parson + Associates (P+A) has worked alongside KC Water and Carollo Engineers providing crucial communication support to ensure the successful development of this innovative facility.

Keeping the Public Informed

P+A plays a key role in the communication efforts, adjusting tactics to the needs of the project. From the project’s early days, we created and managed a dedicated website for project updates (http://blueriverbiosolids.com). We produced the Blue River Bulletin, the facility’s construction update newsletter, to share feature articles and technical information with the public, employees, and policymakers.

As part of our content strategy, P+A crafted comprehensive fact sheets for public awareness. Throughout the construction process, we continue to produce milestone videos, weekly drone footage, and side-by-side before-and-after comparisons to visually document progress.

Coordinating Milestone Moments

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project’s groundbreaking event was held virtually, requiring a creative approach to coordination and logistics. P+A handled coordination, logistics, and promotion, ensuring a seamless experience.

One of our biggest achievements was coordinating a Congressional Tour at the biosolids plant to showcase the importance and need for federal infrastructure investments. The new facility is being paid for through a combination of state and federal money; $100 million from the State Revolving Fund program and up to $40 million from local investment. We promoted the tour to workers, industry leaders, media, and federal representatives, increasing attendance and visibility.

Building a New Future for Kansas City

The Blue River Biosolids Project represents a transformative shift in Kansas City’s wastewater management. Through our work in outreach, digital engagement, event coordination, and ongoing communications, we help ensure that this groundbreaking initiative is not only successful but also widely understood and embraced by the community.