KDHE Home - News 2000 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
KDHE Issues Public Health Advisory for Parts of Mill Creek
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a public health advisory for Mill Creek in Johnson County. This advisory extends from Harold Street in the City of Olathe, north to the confluence with the Kansas River.
This advisory stems from the release of 180,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from the Van Mar Sewage Lift Station due to an electrical short in a breaker box caused by the heat. The City of Olathe has corrected the electrical problems and has taken steps to help in the clean-up. Tests conducted by KDHE have determined concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria in Mill Creek greatly exceed applicable water quality criteria.
The department strongly discourages swimming, wading, boating, fishing and other activities involving bodily contact with the water of this stream, pending the collection of additional data and the return of the original water quality condition. Departmental personnel will monitor concentration of bacteria in this stream on a regular basis throughout the advisory period.
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