De Soto Water Treatment Plant Improvements

To support the new Panasonic Electric Vehicle Battery facility, the City of De Soto, Kansas, restored its 80-year-old water treatment plant, boosting its capacity to 8 million gallons per day (MGD). As CMAR, Garney partnered with HDR to deliver critical improvements, including equipment replacement, new facility construction, and extensive infrastructure upgrades.

Key enhancements included a new gravity filter building, administration and chemical feed buildings, an additional lime softening basin with a new lime silo storage and feed system, two 0.5 MG clearwells, new transfer and high service pump stations, expanded lime residual lagoons, and comprehensive electrical and SCADA system upgrades. These improvements increased plant capacity and created system redundancy, providing operators greater peace of mind and ensuring the plant can reliably meet the city’s and Panasonic’s water demands, even during maintenance or unexpected downtime.

Garney’s early involvement facilitated real-time constructability reviews, cost estimating, and value engineering, enabling refinement of the scope and effective cost management. One key decision—constructing a new filter facility instead of renovating the existing one—eliminated significant risk, provided a more accurate financial estimate for the owner, and minimized disruptions to ongoing plant operations. This solution improved crew safety and efficiency while keeping the project under budget.

To fast-track construction, the team divided the project into multiple bid packages and GMPs to procure long-lead equipment and mobilize early. Prefabricated filters, pump stations, and precast buildings further advanced the schedule and supported seamless project delivery.

Through careful planning, close coordination, and well-timed shutdowns, the team completed the construction of potable water service in just 14 months, achieving a critical milestone for the city. Beyond meeting immediate industrial needs, the upgraded plant supports De Soto’s long-term growth and economic development.