McCarthy Completes $74.3 Million Wastewater Project in Kansas

en.Wedoany.com Reported - McCarthy, in partnership with record engineer Black & Veatch, announced the completion of the modernization project for the Kansas River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lawrence, Kansas, at a cost of $74.3 million.

The renovation involved converting four aeration basins into biological nutrient removal basins to significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharged into the Kansas River. The project added a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, enabling plant operators to monitor and control all plant systems in real time. According to the announcement, the scope also included electrical and infrastructure upgrades.

Due to the aging plant and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, McCarthy and the city initiated this upgrade. Following improvements, the facility now meets the updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit standards set by the state’s Department of Health and Environment.

Operating since 1956, the plant treats approximately 8 million gallons per day, accounting for about 80% of the city’s daily wastewater volume. According to the city’s wastewater treatment information page, it was the city’s sole wastewater treatment plant until the Wakarusa River Wastewater Treatment Plant began operations in 2018.

The project was delivered using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) method, the first time this contract model was employed in a wastewater project for the city. CMAR is increasingly used in infrastructure projects, recognized by experts for its effectiveness in reducing owner risk.

Kerry Klausner, Senior Project Director at McCarthy, stated in a press release that as the city’s first CMAR wastewater project, this effort demonstrates how collaborative delivery methods create tangible value for clients and all project partners by enhancing coordination, reducing risk, and supporting smart solutions from preconstruction through completion.

McCarthy undertakes water projects nationwide. In January, the contractor and partner Black & Veatch reached a key milestone on a $168 million water treatment project in Mesa, Arizona. In June, the McCarthy-Jacobs JV began construction on a $185 million water project in Torrance, California.