Department of Natural Resources awards $4.5 million to Clark County Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recently awarded $4.5 million in financial assistance to the Clark County Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1 for upgrades to the district’s drinking water storage and distribution systems. The funding is expected to cover the cost of the entire project, which is anticipated to be completed by November 2025.

The project will include a new 150,000-gallon elevated water tower, some new water lines and other upgrades. These improvements will allow the district to continue offering safe drinking water for years to come with a modern and well-functioning drinking water system.

The funding for the project consists of a $1.8 million grant and a $2.7 million low-interest loan, both from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The loan is subject to more than $1.1 million in principal forgiveness. The funding provided by the department is estimated to save the district’s ratepayers $3 million in principal and approximately $495,000 in interest over the loan’s 20-year term.

“If Missouri communities are to grow and thrive, they simply must have reliable, up-to-date infrastructure, like the systems that treat drinking water and wastewater,” Missouri Governor Mike Parson said in a press release. “Maintenance and updates to these systems can be very expensive, so we have to find ways to help them afford those very important projects.”

“We are proud to offer qualified Missouri communities funding assistance vehicles that can help them undertake water and wastewater improvement projects,” said Dru Buntin, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “We can tailor assistance programs for cities of all sizes so they can improve their treatment systems. This in turn helps protect public and environmental health and improves the quality of life for Missourians.”

The department’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants, distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, along with interconnection or consolidation projects. Communities that borrow from the fund benefit from the below-market interest rate and from assistance provided throughout their project from a project manager.

The department’s Financial Assistance Center is committed to working with communities to assist with water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. This project will be funded wholly or in part with monies received from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information on wastewater and drinking water funding opportunities, visit dnr.mo.gov/water/what-were-doing/state-revolving-fund-srf.