KC's busted water mains costing us millions to fix
It’s an all-too-familiar story in this hot and dry summer in Kansas City.
A water main bursts. Water pressure drops. Road lanes are blocked. Repairs are made — eventually. And service is restored.
Then repeat, and repeat some more.
The number of busted water lines and frustrated customers have climbed this year. While the extreme weather is a factor, Kansas City also has large problems because its water mains are decades old and more prone to failure.
On Wednesday alone, the Kansas City Water Services Department was busy sending out several more warnings of low water pressure.
And on the previous day, a boil advisory had been issued for the second time in a month for the southeast part of Kansas City as well as Raytown. It was exasperating news for tens of thousands of people. Once again, officials said a power failure had affected a water pump station.
The city is in the midst of a multiyear plan to replace large numbers of aging water pipes. Water rates have been hiked significantly in recent years to help pay for this costly program, including a 12 percent increase that took effect in May.
On Aug. 7, Kansas City voters will face a ballot question asking them to approve $500 million for a separate priority — making federally mandated improvements to the sewage system. The Star has recommended a “yes” vote on the bonds. While clearly needed, it will still take millions more to fix the problems with the water mains.
Kansas Citians face this certainty: Sewer and water charges are guaranteed to go up in the coming years to upgrade important basic services for residents and businesses.
Mark Hastert
10 months, 4 weeks agoI wonder what party it was/is that has been kicking the can down the road for years concerning the water mains and sewers?
Read more here: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/kcs-busted-water-mains-costing-us-millions-fix/#storylink=cpy
Depends on how far back you want to go Pappy. Dick Berkley was a two time Republican. Follow by a Dem and a Dem, and a Republican and most recently a Dem.
You could make the case that the last time we had a Mayor who built lots of infrastructure was during the Pendergast era. I think we now have a Mayor who is doing a good job so far and it will be up to the good citizenry to vote on the bonds for sewers but I’m sure we can count on all the good Conservatives like yourself to step up…
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoHello Mark. I’m not sure if the infrastructure issue is partisan, but you have to admit the city’s politicians have been dominated by Democrats for a very long time. Typical city problems with typical long time Democratic city leadership.
I’m not sure where you get that Funkhouser is a Republican. I have seen him listed as an Indpendent and as a Democrat. He was invited as a delegate to the Democrat National Convention when he was mayor. Doesn’t that indicate that he is a Democrat? I think so.
You are going to have to do better than going back to Berkley to find that Republican domination in KC politics. Berkley is the only Republican Mayor of KC since 1930.
And you bring up an interesting point. I suppose an argument can be made that the last major “infrastructure” mayors were during the Pendergast era. Pendergast was a Democrat. Proud?
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoMark….Berkley was a three time mayor.
Mark Hastert
10 months, 4 weeks ago“Pendergast was a Democrat. Proud?”
that’s not the work I would use but I’ll say that we built a lot with good ‘ol Pendergast concrete. Our mayors and electorate seem to favor the sexy projects over the practical. I get that, it’s nice, but I just want my toilet to flush and my street to be plowed in the Winter and patched in the Spring. Then I’ll enjoy Power and Light or the Sprint Center.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 4 weeks agoAre you saying Pendergast was a net positive?
Kent Mueller
10 months, 3 weeks agoMark, you were saying something about finding more Republican mayors if you go back a bit further? One Republican since 1930? That’s one in 82 years. What did you mean?