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1975
On July 29, the BOCC forms the Johnson County Unified Sewer District under state statute (K.S.A. 19-27154). This resolution combines an entire watershed - 36 separate Main and Sewer Sub-Districts - into a single budget ary entity.
1976
Blue River No. 4 is a small rural lagoon system built at private expense and turned over to the county for operation. It is expected to be abandoned in 10 years.
1977
The Clean Water Act is extensively amended.
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The establishment and enforcement of the local pre-treatment program is a condition of for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
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The Sewer District adopts the User Charge System in order to continue to receive EPA construction grants. Industrial and large commercial customers will pay proportionate User Charges according to actual use of facilities, while residential customers pay their costs based on ad valorem taxes.
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The BOCC is designated as the authority for a comprehensive Country-wide wastewater management plan under Section 208 of PL92-500.
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Nationwide Urban Run-Off Program (NURP) is implemented.
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The Water Quality Management 208 Final Plan for the Kansas City Metropolitan Region concludes that “Specific source of non-point source pollution in the 208 area have not yet been identified” and that additional information must be collected to identify the non-point sources, determine their impact on water quality, and develop control measures.
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A sludge study begins in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (PL92-580).
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Myron Nelson has a staff of over 100.
1978
On January 1, 1978, Mr. Donald E. Steck succeeds Mr. Myron K. Nelson, as Chief Engineer of its 569 sewer districts.
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Steck analyzes the operation of the districts and works with the BOCC to define the agency’s mission, scope and goals more clearly. BOCC approves new organizational structure.
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First Annual Report published.
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Mr. James R. Bills is General Superintendent of the 79 employees of the Operation and Maintenance section. 48 work in the maintenance section and 28 are employed in operating the 7 treatment plants, 3 lagoons 27 pumping stations, and 4 extraneous flow facilities.
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Mr. Virgil Lawrence is Superintendent of the 9 employees who operate the hydraulic portion of the Mission Main and Turkey Creek plants.
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Jake Norris maintains the Indian Creek and Turkey Creek plants and extraneous flow facilities. Mr. Norris’ group also performs all levels of maintenance on the district’s 54-vehicle motor pool and operates a central maintenance shop to accommodate equipment that cannot be repaired in the field.
1979
Population served by Sewer District = 197,000; Total county population = 257,647.
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Legislature permits a city within one county to delegate Sewer District governmental authority to the Board of another county and vice versa.
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Engineering and Planning focus on construction of Indian Creek Middle Basin Plant initially designed to provide treatment for 30,000 population.
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O & M personnel is provided with uniforms.
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A new process called activated sludge is implemented in some of the treatment facilities. The activated sludge process uses the same type of bacteria to treat sewage as the trickling filter process. However, wastewater is mixed with the bacteria in large tanks. Air is supplied to these tanks to keep the contents mixed and supply oxygen to the bacteria. Control of the activated sludge process is more difficult than trickling filters. The process uses more energy but is even more effective in treating wastewater.
1980
A skeleton crew is on the job at all times.
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The new Tooley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at 85th and Holiday Drive near Lake Quivira, is the winner of the 1980 County Public Improvement Award given by the Kansas Consulting Engineers.
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New services and programs are added: a 24 hour answering service, a Public Information Program, a hotline to report an observed deterioration of stream quality, a formalized safety program, and quarterly newsletter.
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Standardization of Policies is established. An apportionment policy is established to provide guidelines on how the costs for $10 million in capital improvements can be spread in the most equitable method to the benefiting districts.
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November 1980, Douglas Smith becomes District Administrator.
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Warren L. Welch is Director of the Engineering Division.
1981
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Construction Grant Amendments reduces federal financial assistance.
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The 1980-81 recession period dramatically cuts back new housing construction and industrial expansion.
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On March 19, 1981, at the recommendation of the new District’s Administrator Doug Smith, the BOCC approves a name change to the Johnson County Unified Wastewater Districts giving the organization a modern image and to make it clear that the Districts provide sanitary sewer services, not storm sewer services.
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Plant laboratories and personnel combine their organizational structure to become the Environmental department.
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The new Blue River Main plant has many energy conservation features. The most outstanding feature is the utilization of passive solar energy.
1982
From mid-April to mid-June when the total rainfall in the region tends to be higher and more intense; Collections respond to about 300 basement backup calls.
1983
The Wastewater Districts in general are overcoming challenges implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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Exhaustive studies are performed on the collection system. The decision is made to develop and implement a private Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Removal Program to alleviate problems associated with too much water entering the sewer system, especially during intense spring rains. The Johnson County’s I/I Removal Program also addresses sources of excess water from private property, a unique approach.
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Severe flooding occurs.
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Rehabilitation of manholes and lines within the Districts is stepped up to reduce backups.
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An office automation effort begins “Phase I”; a word processor replaces the manual and electric typewriters and to permit easier editing of documents. A computer is also installed using a custom designed program to track inflow and infiltration of ground waters into the sanitary sewer system.
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All of the statutes governing the Districts’ activities are consolidated into “Senate Bill 155” (KSA 19-2710a et. seq.).
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In September, John A. Metzler, P.E. starts employment as Chief of Engineering.
1984
In June, Randy Robinson, is hired as an Administrative Director.
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The Board approves the purchase of six cleaning and two television inspection vehicles and the hiring of 15 additional staff to clean and monitor the sanitary sewer system within Johnson County Unified Wastewater Districts.
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In August, the Charter Resolution to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 155 become effective. The bill standardizes procedures in policy relating to wastewater district creation operation.
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The City of Olathe and County enter into an agreement for joint treatment of wastewaters at the Middle Basin plant on August 28, 1984. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of the two parties, and defines how operating and capital costs of the facility is to be shared.
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The Unified Wastewater Districts experiences the largest amount of construction activity in the past 20 years in terms of homes and businesses connecting into the sewer system. This growth leads to a $12 million grant for the expansion of the recently constructed Middle Basin Indian Creek Plant.
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The BOCC approves in September a major $18.5 million dollar study and rehabilitation program to greatly reduce basement flooding and the by-pass of untreated sewage to local streams.
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The Kansas City City Council and the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners signed an agreement on September 11, 1987 for construction of a one mile linking interceptor to the Kansas City, Missouri sewer.
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