Important News
Johnson County Wastewater wins six Peak Performance Awards, one is platinum
Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) received six Peak Performance awards presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). The Peak Performance Awards program recognizes public wastewater treatment facilities for their outstanding compliance records in the 2010 calendar year.
JCW received one Platinum Peak Performance Award to honor treatment works that have completed five years of complete and consistent National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit compliance.
The Platinum Award recipient is JCW’s Blue River Main Plant at 2523 W. 151st Street in Overland Park.
“The plant team has done a wonderful job for JCW and this award is richly deserved,” said John O’Neil, general manager. “Congratulations!”
Additionally, three other JCW treatment facilities were awarded the Gold Peak Performance Award which honors treatment works that have achieved 100 percent compliance with the NPDES permit for an entire calendar year. Two other treatment facilities received Silver Peak Performance Awards which recognizes facilities that have received no more than five NPDES permit violations per calendar year.
Gold Peak Performance Award recipients:
• Mill Creek Regional
• Myron K. Nelson
• New Century AirCenter
Silver Peak Performance Award recipients:
• Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin
• Tomahawk Creek
“The staff at these facilities has worked hard to earn these awards which reflect their commitment to protect the water quality in our local waters,” O’Neil said. “Supporting them in their efforts are engineers, technicians, and Environmental laboratory personnel.”
In 2010, Johnson County Wastewater had a 99.87 percent compliance rate with regard to NPDES discharge violations. Of a possible 2,273 violations, the department had only three violations.
Johnson County’s O’Neil Elected to NACWA’s Board
John O’Neil, general manager of Johnson County Wastewater (JCW), was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).
NACWA represents the interests of more than 300 public agencies and organizations that have made the pursuit of scientifically based, technically sound and cost effective laws and regulations their objective. NACWA members serve the majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively treat and reclaim more than 18 billion gallons of wastewater daily.
O’Neil has been with JCW since 1989, first as the Director of Operations and Maintenance and since February 2006 as Wastewater General Manager. As JCW’s General Manager, O’Neil oversees all aspects of the wastewater utility, and is coordinating the building of strong bridges between the three department divisions to provide a unified level and quality of service to JCW customers.
O’Neil is actively involved in current water quality and affordability issues at a national level. “John brings a wealth of experience in the water pollution control field to contribute to the role of the Board of Directors of NACWA,” said David Williams, NACWA’s President.
“I consider NACWA’s role as critical to achieving reasonable and affordable solutions to improving the water quality of our nation’s waters,” O’Neil said, “and I’m excited to become part of that solution.”