Topeka treatment plant releases sewage into Kansas River

LAWRENCE – Officials at Lawrence’s Kaw Water Treatment Plant say they’re watching for possible problems after the release of untreated waste water from a Topeka waste water treatment plant.

Jeanette Klamm, a spokeswoman for the city’s utilities department, said Tuesday the quality of Lawrence’s drinking water hasn’t been affected by the approximately 8 million gallons of waste water that flowed downstream in the Kansas River.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the city of Topeka notified Lawrence utility officials early Tuesday that heavy rains in the Topeka area filled Topeka’s sewage treatment plant to capacity, causing the overflow.

This is the second time this year that a significant amount of untreated waste water has entered the Kansas River from the Topeka plant.

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 6:37 AM with the headline "Topeka treatment plant releases sewage into Kansas River."