Wastewater
Phone: 913-715-8500
11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 2500, Olathe, Kansas 66061
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.
Providing exemplary customer care while also ensuring the best quality wastewater service are central to Johnson County Wastewater’s (JCW) mission. The department’s hard work has been recognized by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). The organization awarded 2021 Peak Performance Awards to JCW for the 2020 permit compliance year to the following:
“Our staff members work hard everyday to promote efficient and effective methods of wastewater treatment,” JCW General Manager Susan Pekarek said. “We’re pleased to be recognized for our efforts and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in our community. It takes everyone from our plant operators to the line folks, to our customer services folks, to the engineers to our finance and accounting staff. It all works together, and it’s why we continue to be recognized as leaders in wastewater.”
Platinum Awards recognized 100% compliance with permits over a consecutive five-year period. JCW received a 15-year Platinum award this year at its Blue River Main facility.
The awards were featured during a virtual awards ceremony on July 21. NACWA represents public wastewater and stormwater agencies of all sizes nationwide. The association ensures members have the tools necessary to provide affordable and sustainable clean water for all.
The Board of County Commissioners will resume meeting in the Hearing Room beginning on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 9:30 am. To reduce the spread of COVID-19, physical distancing will be observed in the Hearing Room, with limited seating in the adjacent lobby with audio available. A live broadcast will still be available at boccmeetings.jocogov.org and on Facebook Live. Public comments are being accepted for those who preregister. Live public comments will be accepted either in-person or via Zoom, audio only. Individuals wishing to speak in-person or via Zoom may register by completing the registration form link at https://boccmeetings.jocogov.org/onbaseagendaonline. Registration opens Tuesday afternoon/evening (coincides with publishing the agenda) and closes at noon (12:00 p.m.) on the Wednesday before the Thursday meeting. If you would like to make a WRITTEN public comment, please use this link, Public Comments and complete the form. If you have questions or concerns with the registration process or the deadline, please contact us at 913-715-8555. Persons who may need assistance, the use of a sign language or oral interpreter, or who require special accommodations, should contact us at [email protected] or contact us via the Kansas Relay Operator at 800-766-3777, or by phone at (913) 715-0430 at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting.
Johnson County Wastewater’s user charges are evaluated annually for their sufficiency in covering the cost of providing wastewater collection and treatment service. Revenues from user charges represent the majority of JCW’s revenues. All JCW customers pay user charges that include a bi-monthly service charge and a charge for wastewater volume.
JCW also provides ancillary services to meet the specific needs of some, but not all, customers. These services may include plan reviews, permits, inspections and other services. The costs of providing these ancillary services are reviewed periodically for their sufficiency to recover the related costs. Click here for a list of the 2021 fees.
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."
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.
For information on additional payment options, see Additional Payment Options.
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To report a sewer backup that requires immediate attention, please call Johnson County Wastewater's Emergency Line at 913-715-8600.
111 S Cherry St, Olathe, KS 66061 | 913-715-5000 | TDD: 800-766-3777
© Johnson County, KS, USA 2021
