WaterOne ‘Passes the Test’ for High Water Quality WaterOne Seminars Promote Practical Water Saving Tips WaterOne is dedicated to providing water that meets the highest stan- dards for safe drinking water. Hundreds of tests are run daily to ensure As part of WaterOne’s continuing

top-quality, uncompromised drinking water. commitment to water conservation, its LINE News from Water District No. 1 of Johnson County PIPE Conservation Department puts on Each year, water utilities across the nation send their customers an annual many free seminars to help customers WaterOne Takes Proactive water quality report. This ‘report card’ provides a summary of year-end use water wisely. Customers benefit Chairman’s tap water test results. Once again, WaterOne has passed the test with from WaterOne’s programs by becom- Stance on River Issues Two issues currently pose potential risks to the flying colors. The 2005 Water Quality Report shows that state and ing more efficient water users, and Corner...... availably of water on the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, federal standards for safe drinking water were met, or even surpassed, in saving money on their water bills. For Master Planning is Key to the two main sources of water supply for WaterOne. 2004. The report will soon be mailed to all customers. More information dates, times and location of these Both of these risks involve the degradation of the about your water quality can be found at: www.waterone.org. seminars, check out the Conservation Utility’s Success riverbed on the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. page at www.waterone.org. WaterOne prides Update Needed to itself on its proven Kansas River Jetty In 2004 the 25-year old Kansas River rock jetty, which record of good long directs water from the Kansas River into WaterOne’s WaterOne range planning. We intake, incurred a breach that required emergency Governing Board Members are proud to have repairs. The Kansas River supplies 55 millions gallons kept pace with per day (mgd) of WaterOne’s current capacity of 165 existing customer mgd. The river is critical as a water Jim Vader, Chairman growth, and we’re source to help meet Terry Frederick, Vice Chairman continuing to plan Jim Vader summer peak The Water Board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 demands and it Dick Noon, Member Board Chairman and develop major Rob Olson, Member p.m. at the Byron N. Johnson Administrative Headquarters and water improvement provides an Bob Reese, Member Service Center, 10747 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa. The meeting programs for the alternative water agenda can be accessed at: www.waterone.org supply in instances Joe Vaughan, Member future. where the Missouri Dick Weisser, P.E. Member River facilities have With the completion this summer of to be taken off-line. The WaterOne Pipeline is published Aerial photo of Kansas River jetty and General Manager: Michael J. Armstrong Phase IV of our Master Plan, our pre-treatment facilities. for our business and community While the break was fixed in 2004, at a cost of $1.7 INSIDE partners in Johnson County. Email existing treatment facilities will be million, a recent study by WaterOne’s consulting WaterOne 2 questions about the WaterOne Pipeline completely built out. The WaterOne engineers, Black & Veatch, reports larger problems on to [email protected]. Board has approved an update to the the horizon. Their research shows the probability is Looks Ahead to utility’s Master Plan and we have high for the jetty structure to experience future Phase V already begun planning for the next failures. A permanent solution to ensure the reliability major expansion. Phase V of this plan of the jetty will cost in excess of $12 million, and Update on 2 WaterOne is seeking to secure federal appropriations Major Projects includes the construction of a new to help defray these improvement costs. On a recent treatment plant on the Missouri River. trip to Washington, D. C., WaterOne’s General This project, scheduled to be completed Manager, Mike Armstrong, and Tom Schrempp, WaterOne 2 in 2009, will provide an additional 30 Director of Production, met with members of Implements million gallons per day to our system Congress and their staffs, including Kansas Senators New Computer Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, and Congressman System capacity. We are in the process of Dennis Moore to discuss this issue. completing a cost of service study of Water District No. 1 Conservation 3 the financial impacts of this project and of Johnson County Low Water Levels on Missouri River Plan appropriate system development Recent news stories have reported on problems with 10747 Renner Boulevard Approved by charges. low river flows on the Missouri River brought on by Kansas Water Lenexa, KS 66219 drought conditions in the upper Missouri River basin. The issue has been greatly exacerbated by continuing Office In closing, I would like to say it has been riverbed degradation on the river. a privilege to serve as Board Chairman Riverbed degradation makes it difficult to divert water Automated 3 the past two years. A new Chairman from already low river levels from the Missouri River Meter Reading and Vice-Chairman will be elected at to our intake facilities. To address the problem, Solution the May 10 Board meeting. There are WaterOne previously installed a supplemental pumping Translates into system at a cost of $2 million. We are also working Cost Savings many exciting challenges ahead for the with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a utility and I look forward to continuing study to solve the degradation problem and are seeking my service as a member of the federal funding for this study. WaterOne Board. SPRING 2005 System Capacity Increasing WaterOne Looking Ahead to Phase V and Beyond Purchase of Laptops Re- Revised WaterOne Automated Meter Reading to 180 Million Gallons sults in Productivity Gains Conservation Plan Solution Translates into Cost Per Day (mgd) With the completion of Phase IV, the utility will have maximized the Approved by Kansas Savings capacity of its existing treatment facilities. Planning has already begun WaterOne has purchased rugged Water Office WaterOne’s total treatment and for Phase V, the next major expansion on the Missouri River. The laptop computers for its WaterOne has executed a contract pumping capacity will be increased completion of Phase V, projected to Construction & Maintenance WaterOne has a long-standing with Cellnet Technologies, Inc. from 165 mgd to 180 mgd this summer. occur in 2009, includes construction Department for use in the field. record of commitment to water (Cellnet) for a turnkey conversion of With this increase, the utility is well of a new treatment plant, and will The purchase of the laptops means conservation. Its state-approved its monthly billed commercial accounts positioned to meet summer demands, increase the total system capacity to customers will be served more Conservation Plan that has been in to automated meter reading (AMR). place for many years was recently even if they exceed the record break- 210 million gallons per day. efficiently during WaterOne’s WaterOne joins a growing number of revised and approved by the ing system usage records set in 2003. regular daily activities, as well as utilities nationwide that have converted Kansas Water Office. Population projections indicate the during emergencies. to AMR technology for collection of its WaterOne’s Conservation Plan The additional capacity will help ensure number of customers within billing data. The fixed wireless radio The laptops include Geographic explains what the utility is doing to an uninterrupted supply of high quality WaterOne’s service area will network system will allow WaterOne Information System (GIS) be good stewards of the water water to the cities we serve and their continue to grow at a rapid pace to improve its operational efficiency software, which allows employees rights we currently have, and residents. over the next 40 years. The Master and reduce labor costs associated with in the field and on the road to have outlines how we would respond to Plan provides a comprehensive road map for future expansion, and obtaining manual meter reads. complete, current maps of the water shortages in drought includes population projections and future capacity needs through the year WaterOne pipeline system. conditions. Plans for minor 2042. Previously, this information had to shortages are in place, as well as As part of the initial planning phase of provisions for water emergencies this project, WaterOne conducted an Update on Major Construction Projects WaterOne Converting to New be obtained manually utilizing paper maps and micro fiche. where shortages might become extensive evaluation of AMR systems Computer System serious. and suppliers, including a one-year pilot Overland Park -- Installation is west to Mize Rd., is expected to Daniel J. Smith P. E., WaterOne’s study to assess both drive-by and fixed complete on a 20” transmission main be put in service in late April 2005. On May 2, 2005, WaterOne converted to a Director of Distribution, says, “It is This plan is not only part of network technologies. It was deter- A 12” main along Prairie Star from 131st Street and Quivira Road, new integrated computer system utilizing exciting to embrace this new WaterOne’s commitment to mined that a fixed network AMR Parkway was completed and put to 135th Street and Nieman Road. SAP software. The new system replaces technology, and to know there will conservation, it is also key to system provided the best data collec- into service in 2004. See photo A 16” main along 135th Street from all existing legacy systems that have served be major efficiency gains from the obtaining additional water rights tion solution, and that Cellnet was best Nieman Road to Switzer Road has below. the utility for over 25 years. With the new use of the laptops. Our foremen from Kansas Division of Water positioned to provide this service to the also been completed. technology solution, WaterOne will have can already see the benefits of Resources for phase V expansion, utility. access to consistent data sharing throughout utilizing them.” scheduled for completion in 2009. Currently under construction is a 42” the organization, and will be able to enhance Dan Graves, AMR Project Manager main along 135th Street from Quivira its business processes and accountability Lunar Rover or WaterOne Spaceship? for WaterOne stated, “We believe this to Metcalf. The installation of this through greater reporting and analytical technology will provide benefits to both main is expected to be complete by capabilities. As a result, WaterOne’s WaterOne and its customers, and will Motorists traveling south on I-435 summer, 2005. customers, business partners and employees result in significant operational effi- near the Kansas River may have will be better served. ciencies throughout the utility.” The noticed several unusual looking Overland Park – Lenexa - Olathe conversion will be completed in 2005. Installation is nearly complete on a The consulting firm of TUI, Inc. has been domes to the east on Holliday 48” transmission main from 113th & Left to Right: Cindy Green, former on site at the utility for the past seven Drive. At first glance these domes Laboratory Personnel Repeat may resemble something from outer Santa Fe Trail Drive to 135th & Lenexa City Council President; Mike months to customize the software to Perfect Score Quivira. WaterOne anticipates placing Boehm, Mayor of Lenexa; Jim Vader, WaterOne’s business practices and help space; in actuality, they are only WaterOne Board Chairman; Terry it into service by summer, 2005. prepare employees for the transition. aluminum structures built atop WaterOne’s laboratory employees have Frederick, WaterOne Board Vice WaterOne’s Kansas River pre- received another perfect score on an EPA Chairman. Extensive training of WaterOne employees Shawnee -- Installation of a 36” occurred throughout March and April at the treatment facilities. performance evaluation. WaterOne’s transmission main from 77th Street & laboratory staff is required to complete Future Projects Lenexa Technology Center. Monticello Road to Johnson Drive & The domes are part of several EPA testing every six months. The team A number of additional transmis- Renner Road is approximately 65% water treatment process improve- has consistently received perfect scores. sion and distribution main projects With the new software in place, WaterOne complete. Final completion is antici- ments that have been made re- are currently in progress and continues to demonstrate its vision of setting pated by the summer of 2005. cently to the Kansas River facilities WaterOne’s laboratory is accredited by scheduled to be completed by the the standard for utility excellence. to minimize taste and odor, and KDHE’s Laboratory Inspection Program summer of 2006. View a complete Lenexa -- A 30” transmission main increase pumping capacity. The under the guidelines of the National listing of these on WaterOne’s along Prairie Star Parkway, from K-7 aluminum domes keep water from Environmental Laboratory Accreditation website: www.waterone.org freezing in the basins during the Conference. winter months.