On Friday, the City of Wichita broke ground on a new wastewater center, which is part of the Biological Nutrient Removal program (BNR). The BNR is the second-largest infrastructure investment in the city’s history, costing $357 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2027. The project is focused on improving the Arkansas River water quality, rehabilitating critical infrastructure and addressing the strong odor that has plagued the southside of Wichita for years. “The smell gets like stronger and stronger depending on like the week, and it gets like I’m just so nose blind, I don’t really smell it anymore, but I see people coming in my store with like their shirts over their noses because the smell is just so strong and overpowering,” southside Wichita Dollar General Manager Michael Loper said. The City says coverings will be placed over some of the clarifiers to help reduce the odor. “Basically putting lids on the clarifiers, doing some processing things differently. They’re going to help with the outer control. That part should be in place by 2026. Spent a lot of time talking, and the people in the neighborhoods and the areas that spend time down here and there’s certainly ready for that,” Director of Public Works Gary Janzen said.
Source: KSN-TV
