An advanced water treatment facility to replenish the city’s aquifer.
Key Services
Construction
Preconstruction
Strategic Partnerships
Delivery Method
Progressive Design-Build (PDB)Capacity
30 MGDThe challenge
The City of Wichita faced a critical threat to its water supply as the Equus Beds Aquifer, the city’s primary water source, was running dry. With this depletion threatening the city’s ability to provide clean drinking water, the city looked to develop an advanced water treatment facility to draw water from the Little Arkansas River, treat it effectively, and replenish the aquifer to ensure a reliable water supply moving forward.

Key Facts
National Award of Merit, Water/Wastewater, Design-Build Institute of America
State Building Awards, Award of Honor, AGC of Kansas
Value-engineering provided 28% cost savings
Challenge met
To address this urgent need, the City of Wichita engaged CAS Constructors in a design-build partnership to develop a solution that included a river water intake system, an advanced treatment plant, and a high-service pump station. The intake system was designed to draw up to 60 million gallons of water per day from the river, which was then treated through membrane filtration and advanced oxidation to remove contaminants like atrazine.
The team implemented value-engineering strategies that reduced costs by 28% compared to initial estimates. One notable innovation was relocating the pre-sedimentation basin closer to the discharge point, resulting in significant long-term operational savings.
This project successfully restored the city’s aquifer, ensuring a sustainable source of clean water for the growing community.