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Johnson County Wastewater outlines $22–25 million overhaul of Belinda pump station, aims for 2028 completion
Summary
Johnson County Wastewater presented plans to upgrade the aging Belinda Pump Station that serves about 40,000 people across six cities, citing regulatory requirements to remove chlorine residuals. The project is estimated at $22–$25 million, is at 60% design, and targets construction start in September with a 28‑month build period to early 2028.
Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) on Monday laid out plans to rebuild and modernize the Belinda Pump Station at 5700 Belinda Ave., a facility that dates to 1947 and serves roughly 40,000 people in six municipalities in northeast Johnson County.
"Belinda Pump Station is located just down the street at 5700 Belinda Ave," said Alex Zierwinski, managing engineer for Johnson County Wastewater, as he described the site and the proposed work. Zierwinski told the Fairway City Council the project is driven by three needs: renewal and replacement of aging equipment, a regulatory requirement to reduce chlorine residuals in discharged water, and inclusion in JCW’s 25‑year integrated capital plan.
The station typically pumps about 2,500,000 gallons of wastewater per day and can handle up to 10.6 million gallons in dry‑pump mode, Zierwinski said. The project scope includes replacing influent screens and pumps, adding an electrical room and a chemical room, upgrading HVAC and plumbing, replacing the roof, and adding backup power and odor and noise mitigation measures. JCW proposes pushing new additions toward the front yard to preserve rear yard buffers for nearby residents.
"The estimated cost for this from a total project basis design and construction is between the 22 to $25,000,000 range," Zierwinski said. He said JCW is negotiating a target 2028 completion date with the state. The design was about 60% complete at the time of the presentation, with a goal to reach 90% by March, put the project to bid in May and issue a notice to proceed in September; construction would span about 28 months.
Zierwinski described steps JCW will take to maintain operations during construction, including setting bypass pumps in the front yard with noise suppression and careful staging so the facility can continue to pump while internal equipment is replaced. "Bypass pumping is very expensive... it's in our interest, it's in the contractor's interest to get that done as quickly as possible," he said.
Councilors asked about cost impacts to individual homeowners. Zierwinski said the project is part of a larger 25‑year capital plan spread across many projects and operating costs. "The ultimate goal is to make sure that we're not charging any more than a in a 5% increase in rates year over year," he said, describing how JCW models rate impacts across programs.
Zierwinski also noted the wet‑weather holding basin and portions of the property are inside the Brush Creek floodplain; the facility’s finished floor will be designed above base flood elevation. He said JCW will post outreach materials and a project website with slides from prior public meetings (jcwprogram.com/belinder) and that the contractor will be required to plan for pedestrian safety along State Park Road and Belinda Ave.
JCW representatives in the audience included its project manager and design team members from Black & Veatch. No formal action was taken by the council on the presentation; JCW asked only for public input and provided the schedule and financial estimate.
What’s next: JCW expects to advance to 90% design in the coming months, release bid documents by May and (if the schedule holds) begin staged construction in September, with completion anticipated in early 2028.
