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Water Plant

Water Production and Distribution

Water Treatment Plant

The City of Osawatomie Water Treatment Plant draws its source water from the Marais des Cygnes river that borders the community to the north. The treatment plant treats an annual average of 700,000 gallons per day, and typically operates for 16 hours a day. The plant is staffed by five full-time employees as well as one part-time operator. These operators hold a variety of industry certifications and undergo specialized training on a regular basis.

The water plant operators also monitor access to the City’s free public forestry disposal site, located to the northeast of the plant. The forestry disposal site is a free dump site for green waste, like lawn clippings, brush, leaves, etc. The forestry site is open during regular business hours, and visitors must check in with City staff at the plant before proceeding to the site.

Water Distribution

The City of Osawatomie water distribution system contains 26 miles of piping, with pipe sizes ranging from 2” - 10" in diameter. The distribution system serves 2,623 meters, or 4,320 customers, inside and outside of Osawatomie. Our distribution system contains 177 fire hydrants which are flushed annually alongside the water plant's annual free chlorine burn out. Additionally, there are four bulk meters served by the distribution system:

  • Osawatomie State Hospital, serving approximately 400 staff and 175 patients
  • Rural Water District #1, serving 640 meters or approximately 1,600 people
  • Rural Water District #3, serving 1,042 meters or approximately 2,605 people
  • Bulk Water Fill Station for individuals that are not connected to City water or a water district

The distribution system has two towers: one with 125,000-gallon capacity and another with 500,000-gallon capacity. In addition to supplying the residents of Osawatomie, the water plant provides water to Miami County Rural Water District #1 and Rural Water District #3 as well as the Osawatomie State Hospital. On average, our water production and distribution team serves 4,320 residents in Osawatomie and the surrounding areas.

The distribution crews is staffed with three full-time operators who also handle the Wastewater Collections System as well.