Kansas County Wins $281M WIFIA Loan for $400M Wastewater Plant Modernization

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a $281 million, low-interest loan to Johnson County, KS to help pay for its approximately $400 million Nelson Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project.

The new system, according to the EPA, will be able to meet future water quality standards and be more resilient to climate change. The agency also said the loan's low-interest component will save the project $80 million.

Construction, which is scheduled to begin in January 2024, will include:

• Demolition of most of the existing facility;
• A phased building plan so that portions of the wastewater treatment plant are able to remain in service;
• Implementation of biological nutrient removal upgrades;
• Addition of auxiliary treatment facilities to treat peak, wet-weather flows and biosolids processing;
• Offsite work to replace pipes from offsite pump stations to the facility; and
• New wastewater treatment and odor control technologies.

The modernized treatment plant, according to Johnson County, will also implement sustainable measures such as the reuse of methane, which is produced during biosolids digestion, for heating purposes; high-strength ammonia sidestream treatment, which will take pressure off the primary treatment process; discontinuation of landfilling biosolids through beneficial land application; and high-efficiency motors and lighting. The full story on The Construction Broadsheet is here.