Building Resilient Water Systems Across Kansas
Communities across Kansas are balancing the need to address aging water infrastructure while also preparing for future growth. Freese and Nichols is helping meet both challenges through projects that improve system reliability, support economic development and provide long-term value for residents.
These projects also represent Freese and Nichols’ first completed water and wastewater utility projects in the state, marking an important milestone while demonstrating the firm’s commitment to delivering practical, long-term infrastructure solutions while building lasting relationships.
Rehabilitation of 50-Year-Old Water Tower
The City of Lawrence rehabilitated its half-million-gallon Harper Tower elevated storage tank, originally constructed in 1968, to extend the life of a critical water system asset and improve reliability for residents. Freese and Nichols provided preliminary and final design, bidding, and construction-phase services.
The project extended the tank’s useful life while improving worker safety, reliability and regulatory compliance. Crews completed structural repairs, modern safety improvements, and upgrades to the electrical and SCADA systems to help the facility meet current operational and regulatory standards.
Harper Tower returned to service in May 2026 ahead of peak summer water demand, giving the city additional storage capacity when it needed it most.
“We’re reinvigorating these tanks to extend their useful life well into the 21st century with the structural and safety improvements we’ve made,” said Brian Glynn, Water/Wastewater Transmission & Utilities Leader.
Preparing Future Developments with Sewer Extension
Planning for future industrial growth, the City of Olathe is extending sanitary sewer service south of Lone Elm Park to support approximately 400 acres of planned development. Freese and Nichols partnered with the City to design the extension and help advance the project on an accelerated schedule.
Building on the City’s conceptual design, Freese and Nichols completed the final design, including geotechnical investigations and survey work coordinated with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The City selected Freese and Nichols to deliver the fast-track design, allowing the project to move forward quickly in support of planned development.
Because Lone Elm Park includes a historic site and was once a stopping point along the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails, the project team carefully considered the potential for historical artifacts throughout the design process.
Supporting Kansas’ Long-Term Growth
As Kansas communities continue to balance aging infrastructure with future growth, projects like those in Lawrence and Olathe demonstrate how strategic investments can strengthen essential services, support economic development and deliver long-term value for residents.
For Freese and Nichols, these projects mark an important milestone as the firm’s first completed water and wastewater utility projects in Kansas. More importantly, they reflect the firm’s commitment to partnering with communities to preserve critical infrastructure, prepare for future needs and deliver practical, long-term solutions.
“We want to be a trusted advisor and build that relationship for future projects,” Brian said. “We want to show our clients that we’re here for the long haul and willing to work through any issues that arise.”