For many years after completing the sewer system in the 1890's, untreated wastewater was dumped directly into the Arkansas River. As the city expanded, so did the sewer system, but treatment facilities were not built. Over a period of time from 1910 until the mid-1920's, numerous complaints led to letters and petitions to the Kansas State Board of Health protesting the discharge which was polluting the river. Oxygen in the water was depleted, creating a hazard to the wildlife. Sludge banks created odors and health hazards several miles downstream, especially during dry weather when the river was too low to adequately dilute the sewage. By 1930, the volume of sewage from Wichita was so great that during part of the year it equaled or exceeded the amount of water in the river. According to an article in the Eagle on October 22, 1930, records showed that from June 29 to September 29 the quantity of water was insufficient to dilute the sewage 74 percent of the time.

As the complaints were raised, the Board of Health requested Wichita and various other Kansas cities on repeated occasions to stop polluting the river, but to no avail. In 1926, the protests grew as the river went dry, causing very offensive odor and sanitary problems. Suits were filed against Wichita and at least in one case, Stuckey vs. Wichita, damages of $523.70 were awarded to a plaintiff. The Board of Health finally had to act on the matter, adopting a resolution on December 17, 1926. The resolution ordered Wichita "to proceed at once with the necessary preliminary studies" for disposing of sewage. It elaborated further by stating, "The result of the discharge of untreated sewage from Wichita" was both "a nuisance and a menace to health along the river." (Eagle, 12/18/26). It went on to order Wichita to make a complete report on the problem, recommending the type of sewage treatment to be used, by January 1, 1928. The board intended to have Wichita provide complete treatment as soon as possible.

The City Commission responded shortly after and appropriated $2,000 for preliminary surveys by the city engineer. He filed his report with the board in December, 1927. In March, 1928, Wichita was ordered to proceed at once with studies and to prepare plans and specifications for a wastewater treatment plant. March 1, 1930, was set as the deadline for the plant to be in operation, or all permits to the city for the discharge of