Phase V Water Supply, Treatment and Distribution Facility Improvements

Black & Veatch uses innovative technology to provide a reliable source of drinking water to WaterOne customers into the future, while being in harmony with the environment.

Success Story

Client: Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas (WaterOne)
Project: Phase V Water Supply, Treatment and Distribution Facility Improvements
Location: Wyandotte, Leavenworth and Johnson Counties, Kansas

Because of rapid population growth, Water District no. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas (WaterOne) needed a reliable, long-term water supply. The 2003 water master plan identified the need for an additional 150 million gallons per day (mgd) of capacity over the next 40 years. However, no water sources within Johnson County have the necessary reliable capacity.

Black & Veatch determined that it would be necessary to obtain the water for the new facilities from the Missouri River, which is 16 miles away. Because of concerns with drought and degradation of the Missouri River, Black & Veatch’s reliable and sustainable solution to the client’s complex challenges was that the initial 60-mgd supply would be from horizontal collector wells rather than a traditional river intake.

Black & Veatch implemented next-generation, proven, innovative technologies. The new water treatment facilities utilize a microfiltration membrane process instead of conventional media filters. This technology provides a physical barrier for many contaminants in the source water. The water treatment plant has also been designed to be operated remotely from WaterOne’s existing operations and maintenance facility to reduce the cost of operation.

Because the water treatment plant and most of the 16-mile-long treated water transmission main is located in an adjacent county and the facilities serve Johnson County, it was important to keep the residents in the rural setting near the plant and along the treated water transmission main informed. Black & Veatch designed the facilities to blend into the rural setting, with the operations building styled to look like a horse barn and the other structures to look like outbuildings. The community embraced the architectural theme.

Protection of the environment was, and is, an important objective in the design process. To meet this objective, the Black & Veatch design team utilized high-efficiency pumping units, energy-saving process equipment and conservation of transmission pumping head. in addition, the use of residual monofills will reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of this facility.

Black & Veatch is Building a World of Difference and helping WaterOne secure an adequate supply of safe, reliable drinking water for the residents of Johnson County through the year 2050 with facilities that are in harmony with the natural setting, while protecting the environment and minimizing the carbon footprint.