Blunt commends sewer agreement between EPA, Kansas City officials

An agreement on modifications to the sewer overflow control program could be reached soon between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Kansas City, Mo., a move that received kudos from U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who said the tentative deal will provide regulatory certainty and reduce water bills for residents.

“I’m glad that the changes announced today will bring relief to those who need it most without hampering Kansas City’s progress in completing the largest public works project in its history,” Sen. Blunt said on Jan. 8.

In 2018, Blunt urged the Trump administration to support modifications to the Kansas City sewer overflow control program to help protect Kansas City residents from increased utility rates. Under a 2010 consent decree, Kansas City and the EPA developed a sewer overflow control program to meet regulatory requirements and reduce overflows from the sewer systems. But it resulted in increased rates for residents, according to Sen. Blunt’s office.

“Kansas City residents have seen their water bills skyrocket ever since the sewer overflow control program went into effect a decade ago,” said Sen. Blunt. “Under the previous agreement, the average water bill doubled from nearly $50 to over $100, which disproportionately harmed low-income residents.”

City Council members on Jan. 7 voted unanimously to allow the city to execute an amended agreement that still needs approval from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice. While the legislation doesn’t provide details, it does say that the amended agreement “sets achievement of specific performance criteria on a schedule that recognizes the financial capabilities of the city and its ratepayers,” an indication that it might ease program expenses, according to the Kansas City Star.