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KC Watersheds Like Other Cities

Terry Leeds from the Kansas City Water Services Department discusses the results of the water quality study.
(Haley Salvo, KCUR)
Terry Leeds from the Kansas City Water Services Department discusses the results of the water quality study.

By Maria Carter

Kansas City, MO – A recent water quality survey found many Kansas City area streams were similar to their counterparts in other cities. The waterways get more polluted as they wind their way through the Kansas City area. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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The study by the U-S Geological Survey and the Kansas City Water Department looked at the presence of prescription dugs, pesticides, and other chemicals in the streams of the Blue River Basin The report find stream water in the Kansas City area is similar to that of other urban waterways, but it does note that biodiversity decreases and contaminants increase downstream as water flows through heavily populated areas and eventually to the Missouri River. Terry Leeds from the Water Services Department says the study helps assess the current state of the streams and develop future plans.

Terry Leeds: I think we, as a society, of come to realize the impacts of development and urbanization, and the better we understand then I think we have the responsibility to act on that and minimize those impacts. For Kansas City, we understand more of what are problem is and now it's time to."

Kansas City has a combined storm water and sewer system. The study will help develop a required plan to control overflow.

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