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Wastewater

11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 2500, Olathe, Kansas 66061

Johnson County Wastewater’s office is open to the public, but we have modified some of our business practices to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19. Please see Department News (COVID-19 Updates) for the most current information regarding safety measures when visiting our offices, and helpful links and phone numbers to assist you with your Permitting, Grease Management, and Customer Service needs.

wastewater department

Johnson County Wastewater is responsible for the safe collection, transportation, and treatment of wastewater generated by residential, industrial, and commercial customers. Johnson County Wastewater works to eliminate disease-causing bacteria and to protect the environment for human and aquatic life. Johnson County Wastewater's role is to ensure that our streams, rivers and lakes are free from disease-causing bacteria and viruses that are harmful to public health.

Department News

NACWA Recognizes Four Johnson County Wastewater Treatment Facilities

October 19, 2020

Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) has been recognized for Peak Performance by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. The Peak Performance Awards recognize NACWA member agency facilities for excellence in permit compliance.

“Not only do we serve, we excel,” said Susan Pekarek, general manager, JCW. “One of the ways we demonstrate our excellent performance is through awards we receive from NACWA. Thanks to my predecessor, John O’Neil, who started our award application process many years ago, as well as the amazing wastewater staff, we now pursue and receive awards for performance each year.”

In 2019, Johnson County was 99.4% compliant, with 12 violations out of 2,155 test points.

Receiving Platinum Awards were:
Blue River Main Platinum 14
New Century Air Center Platinum 8
Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Platinum 6

The number represents the years of continuous 100% compliance.

Mill Creek Regional received a Silver award, with five or fewer violations throughout the year.

“It goes without saying, that without the quality service that our JCW staff provides our community would not enjoy the success that we have,” Chairman Ed Eilert said during the meeting. “Thank you to you for your leadership and to the JCW employees who work hard, every day.”

Board Proclamation - Imagine a Day Without Water

October 19, 2020

During the regular meeting of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, they proclaimed Oct. 21 as Imagine a Day Without Water,

Madison Crowl, stormwater project manager from Public Works accepted the proclamation alongside Susan Pekarek, general manager, JCW.

Imagine a Day without Water is a national education campaign that brings together diverse stakeholders to highlight how water is essential, invaluable and in need of investment.

"As we try to imagine what a day without water would be like, we can all probably remember a day or two when there was just too much water," Crowl said. "A day when a heavy rainstorm caused dangerous flooding conditions on the streets for our traveling public, or a day when floodwaters inundated a resident’s home or business. It is on those days that, we recognize how investing in the infrastructure that takes care of these waters is also vitally important."

Pekarek noted that JCW provides sanitary sewer service to a population of approximately 500,000 in the county by cleaning the water they use each day.

"2020 is JCW's 75th year of serving Johnson Countians," she said. "What started out as a small facility constructed to serve a few customers in the northeastern portion of the county in the 1940's has continued to grow with the county to serve residents and businesses in 16 cities of our county and the unincorporated area."

Tomahawk WWTF Expansion Project Update

October 19, 2020

The Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion project is on schedule and on budget. The facility at 10701 Lee Boulevard in Leawood was built in 1955. The facility treats wastewater from the Tomahawk Creek watershed, the Indian Creek watershed downstream of the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin WWTF (Lower Indian Creek), and the Dykes Branch sub-watershed. Before construction, the facility treated 7 million gallons per day. That was 40 percent of the wastewater collected from parts of Leawood, Olathe, Overland Park and Prairie Village. The remaining 60 percent was sent to Kansas City, Missouri, for treatment. Once the expansion project is complete, the facility will treat all of the flow that is received. The estimated substantial completion date for the entire project is March 1, 2022.

A major milestone on the project took place on July 31, when the Peak Flow Pump Station was placed online for wet weather service. This allows McCarthy to take the existing Influent Pump Station offline to begin the major work on this structure. The Peak Flow Pump Station was the first structure to be completed. The concrete work onsite is nearing completion. You can see the buildings starting to form and the brick veneer throughout the site. The contractor is continuing work on the inside of structures focusing on installing pipes, pumps, and other major equipment. The replacement of the western part of Lee Boulevard is underway in order to raise the entrance to the site to the 500-year flood elevation. The road is closed and is scheduled to open by mid-September 2020. The next contractual milestone is completing the liquids treatment process by October 25, 2021. This will allow Johnson County Wastewater to begin reducing flow sent to Kansas City. In preparation for this, the team is starting to work on a commissioning and training plan to bring the new facility online.

Since the start of construction, we have been producing educational videos about the Tomahawk Facility so you can see the different steps in the wastewater treatment process. Be sure to check the website to see how it works (https://www.jcwtomahawk.com/how-it-works). Check back often as we continue to highlight a new process each month. As always, you can continue to find useful information, videos, and notifications about the project at www.JCWTomahawk.com.

COVID-19 Updates

September 23, 2020

To protect the health and safety of our customers and staff, we are maintaining reduced staffing within our office. We are available to assist those who choose to do business with us in person, but customers are encouraged to continue to conduct business by phone or online where possible. For in person visits, we follow Governor Kelly’s Executive Order #20-52, requiring patrons and staff of JCW to wear a mask in our offices and outdoors where 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained. There are several exemptions outlined in the order, including for children 5 and younger and those with certain medical conditions.

Our Customer Service professionals are available to help you with your wastewater service and billing inquiries by calling 913-715-8590. For permitting, inspections and development services questions or to schedule an appointment, please call Johnson County Wastewater's Permit Group at 913-715-8520. For online assistance, please utilize these resources.

To start, stop or transfer your wastewater service access our New Service Request Form, Cancel Service Request Form or Transfer Service Form.

For billing inquiries, updating account information, and paying your wastewater bill utilize JCW’s self-service site, Manage Your Account Online. Or simply use our Contact Us web form to ask customer service questions.

For Permitting and Development services inquiries, please visit www.mygovernmentonline.org or email The Permitting Group.

Residential customers who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak are encouraged to call 913-715-8590 to setup a pay arrangement. Staff is available to assist you Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For sewer emergencies, please call 913-715-8600. Our Operations staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide assistance

Visit our Grease Management page for the most current information concerning grease interceptor permit renewals, pumping and operational requirements.

Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience.

EPA Encourages Americans to Only Flush Toilet Paper

March 31, 2020

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging all Americans to only flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash. Flushing only toilet paper helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems and septic systems will continue working properly to safely manage our nation’s wastewater. While EPA encourages disinfecting your environment to prevent the spread of COVID-19, never flush disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items. These easy steps will keep surfaces disinfected and wastewater management systems working for all Americans.

Preventable toilet and sewer backups can pose a threat to human health and present an extra challenge to our water utilities and their workforce. Flushing anything other than toilet paper, including disinfecting wipes, can damage internal plumbing, local sewer systems and septic systems. Fixing these backups is costly and takes time and resources away from ensuring that wastewater management systems are otherwise working properly. EPA thanks wastewater utilities and their workforce for their courageous efforts at a time when resources may be stretched thin. Having fully operational wastewater services is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Americans from other public health risks. Our nation’s wastewater employees are everyday heroes who are on the frontline of protecting human health and the environment every single day.

For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus.

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