First published in KRWA's Kansas Lifeline magazine, November 2025
Rural Water District No. 2, Miami County, recently completed one of the largest investments in water treatment by a rural water district in Kansas. The district provides water service to a population of more than 10,000 and also supplies wholesale water to six other public water systems, the largest of which is Johnson RWD 7 based in Gardner.
The district was incorporated in 1965 with a customer base of 987 services. Not remaining static, Miami RWD 2 has evolved to provide water service to an area experiencing significant growth.
The district’s original treatment plant was constructed at Hillsdale Reservoir in 1985. Located on Harmony Road, the plant provided satisfactory service; however, by 2018 it had reached 85 percent of its total production capacity. To meet changing regulations and the demand for additional water, the district embarked on a three-phase, multi-year construction project with the plan to ultimately increase daily production from six million gallons to twelve million gallons.
The district established three phases for the project. Phases 1 and 2 were designed to take two to four years to complete, while Phase 3 is projected to take five to eight years. Phase 3 remains under evaluation.
Phase 1 included construction of a new pre-sedimentation basin to help pretreat water before it enters the district’s existing super-pulsating clarifiers. The basin helps control peaks in turbidity and elevated levels of iron or manganese during periods of high precipitation impacting Hillsdale Reservoir. The new basin provides significantly more oxidizer detention time.
In addition, two larger process waste lagoons were added to hold process water wasted from clarifier blowdowns and filter backwashing. These larger lagoons allow the water to be retained for much longer periods, providing additional treatment time and resulting in a much higher quality effluent discharge.
Phase 2 involved construction of a new clearwell complex. To meet increased water demand, the district expanded on-site storage capacity tenfold by constructing a three-million-gallon underground storage tank and discontinuing use of the existing one-million-gallon ground storage reservoir.
The new clearwell also allowed for upgraded high-service pumping capacity. Pumps with 250-horsepower motors now serve Miami RWD 2 members and six wholesale customers, while 150-horsepower pumping units provide continuous flow to Johnson RWD 7 and the City of Edgerton.
A new laboratory was included in the clearwell complex, allowing operators to test process control parameters and ensure the delivery of exceptional water quality.
Worker safety was a critical consideration. The district installed two Chlortainer systems, providing a fully enclosed operating system for one-ton chlorine containers. These systems offer an added layer of protection by sealing the containers in the event of a leak, allowing the system to capture any escaping chlorine.
Phase 3 will include further expansion, consisting of an additional bank of super-pulsating clarifiers, four more multi-media filters, and a second pre-sedimentation basin. As of September 2025, the district is still assessing the need for this phase.
The project was funded through the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund. Phase 1 cost $7.5 million and was constructed by Walters Morgan. Phase 2 cost $22.5 million and was constructed by Crossland Heavy Contractors and Geiger Ready-Mix. Midwest Engineering Group LLC of Iola, Kansas, served as the project consultant.
A notable achievement of the project was the extremely low deviation from the original bid—only 0.012 percent due to change orders—resulting in a final cost of $30 million.
Construction required approximately 5,200 cubic yards of concrete, supplied by Geiger Ready-Mix, which delivered up to 300 cubic yards per day. Concrete testing occurred both at the plant and on-site, with an estimated 75 percent of all trucks tested before pours were approved. The project also required more than 490,000 pounds of reinforcing steel.
District Manager Jerry Bennett credited the success of the project to strong cooperation between the district, contractors, and consultant, describing the process as one marked by cohesion, teamwork, and flexibility. From operators and managers to engineers and contractors, all parties worked together to complete an outstanding facility.
The district recently implemented its first rate increase since 1984. Retail rates increased by $2.50 per 1,000 gallons over the course of Phases 1 and 2, with wholesale customers seeing similar increases as contracts renew. The district takes pride in having paid off all prior debt in 2010, ten years ahead of schedule.
Current rates include a $27.00 monthly minimum. The cost for 5,000 gallons is $32.50, and 10,000 gallons costs $65.00.
Lead project engineer Dustin Berry praised Crossland Heavy Contractors and Geiger Ready-Mix, noting that their professionalism and cooperation made even early morning workdays feel manageable.
Miami RWD 2’s board of directors includes Lyle Wobker (Chairman), Glenn Alpert (Vice-Chairman), Brad Ryckert (Secretary), Alan Hire (Treasurer), and directors Gary Guetterman, Mike McClurg, Rick Norland, Peter Pueser, and Charlie Sievert.
Staff members include Jerry Bennett, General Manager; Trenton Morris, P.E., Assistant General Manager; Woody Farmer, Plant Superintendent; Jim Shore, Lead Maintenance Technician; technicians Chase Bloodgood, Troy Feris, Craig Freeman, and John Rayl; and office staff Kalo Short, Office Manager, along with utility clerks Shawna Diediker, Wendy Miller, and Kelly Wright.