Our team had initially been hired to complete the City of Edgerton’s short-term expansion, but after an analysis of the project, the team wasn’t convinced that approach was the best way to meet the city’s growing needs. We proposed a longer-term solution: A new plant and associated pump stations, force mains and pipelines that would pave the way for additional commercial, institutional and residential growth. However, the economic success of the project was dependent on the industrial complex developing per the owner’s projections, which in the short term put more financial risk on the city.

By partnering, the cities of Edgerton and Gardner would be able to meet their wastewater needs in a faster and more cost-effective manner. They signed a unique intermunicipal agreement that led to the creation of the $19 million Big Bull Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility.

But the collaboration didn’t end there. Burns & McDonnell partnered with CAS Constructors LLC to provide design-build services on the project.

Throughout the project, the team was readily available to answer client questions. The team’s open-book policy further fostered the collaborative relationship and made sure that value and service were being delivered to both cities. The careful approach to construction, unique understanding of how individual items can affect a budget, and continual commitment to find the right solution helped create an environment where the clients understood their voices were not only heard, but an essential component of the project’s success.

With the completion of the Big Bull Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, the City of Edgerton was able to honor its commitment to the BNSF Intermodal Facility and LPKC. The project was completed in time for the railway to open successfully, and the city was able to demonstrate its value as a municipal partner to commercial development.

The final product is a 500,000-gallon-per-day treatment plant that uses energy-efficient technology to meet the most stringent water quality standards in Kansas. At the plant, wastewater goes through several treatment processes, including the use of screens for large debris, biological processes for nutrients, filters for phosphorus and ultraviolet for disinfection. The collection system includes three lift stations, two force mains, two gravity interceptors and a 42-inch pipe that crosses underneath a major interstate.

The reimagined project created an efficient solution that addressed two problems, resulting in expanded wastewater treatment capabilities for both cities.