Use of Green Infrastructure Integrated with Conventional Gray Infrastructure for Combined Sewer Overflow Control: Kansas City, MO

Advanced design concepts such as Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Solutions (or upland runoff control techniques) are currently being encouraged by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a management practice to contain and control stormwater at the lot or upland residential parcel level. These controls have shown that when implemented and maintained properly, they can increase retention at the runoff source – decreasing the runoff volume entering the drainage system and the demand on a drainage system. Both developed storm and combined sewersheds can benefit from the added storage from areas retrofitted with bioretention cells or rain gardens and other management techniques, e.g., inlet retrofits or curb-cuts with tree plantings.This paper describes an effort by the EPA to demonstrate the efficacy of implementing integrated, green infrastructure-based solutions to support control of wet-weather flow pollution problems in an urban core neighborhood within a combined sewer system. The pilot project has been included as a component of Kansas City's approved Overflow Control Plan. The project involves public and private efforts to provide the “basis-for-success” for the implementation of green infrastructure and stormwater management at the site, neighborhood, and watershed scales. The paper discusses the strategy and methodology for implementation, including model support, for identifying where and how Green Solutions will be implemented within Kansas City, Missouri.