Welcome to Johnson County Wastewater
About Us!
Timeline 1945 - 2009
64 Years of vision, innovation, and commitment!
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1965
Line Maintenance employees work in the new Labor Division. Lines are cleaned when a problem arises by inserting a steel rod into the sewer line and turning it to remove any blockage.
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There are several amendments to the Water Pollution Control Act, the first federal legislation to strongly address the issue of protecting water quality. The legislation establishes a uniform set of water-quality standards. The traditional goal of protecting public health is still foremost, but now preserving the aesthetics of water resources and protecting aquatic life became additional goals.
1966
The Indian Creek Middle Basin treatment plant site on College Boulevard is purchased. The surrounding area is farmland.
1967
Staff resources continue to be limited. Employees often volunteer to do jobs for overtime pay on weekends, such as painting stations or pump houses. Ulla Erickson starts work and creates the Permits section.
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Heavy spring rains do not adversely affect treatment facilities, due in part to their design. Facilities are designed to treat wastewater flows at two and one-half to three times greater than average flows.
1969
Despite the series of Water Pollution Control Acts, water quality, locally and nationally, is still deteriorating in the late 1960s.
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Wastewater Districts across the nation begin to become concerned with the kinds of wastewater being treated and procedures for pretreatment.
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The protection of the environment is becoming a strongly supported national issue.
1970
In response to the need to make a coordinated effort to protect the environment, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is signed into law on January 1, 1970.
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In December, a new independent body, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is created to bring under one roof all of the pollution-control programs related to air, water, and solid wastes.
1971
The Indian Creek Lower Basin treatment plant at Mission Road and Interstate 435 (I-435) becomes a subject of considerable controversy. The Plant treats wastewater from the Lower Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek watersheds. It discharges into Indian Creek approximately one mile upstream of Kansas City, Missouri, and the plant is located near a park and residential area in Leawood. The presence of the historic Watts Mill on Indian Creek downstream of the County’s Lower Indian Creek Treatment plant heightens the public’s awareness of water quality in the creek.
1972
The Water Pollution Control Act is reorganized and expanded. Amendments expand the role of the federal government in water pollution control and significantly increase federal funding for construction of waste-treatment works. The Act establishes policies for controlling wastewater discharges in an effort to protect water quality and acknowledges storm water as significant. Clean water becomes a national goal.
1973
The Tooley Creek Main Sewer District No. 1 is created in accordance with an “Areawide Law” that was recently passed. One county government is permitted to delegate authority to govern a benefit district to another county government.
1974
The Administration and Engineering divisions are created with fewer than 20 employees.
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Legend: black = general background; yellow = national event; tourquoise = county legislation; green = plant construction; purple = statistics including population
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- Protecting our environment - Serving our customers - Enhancing our communities -
- Updated 4/13/2010 -