County will make water system improvements
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 10, 2022 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded $2.7 million in financial assistance to Camden County Public Water Supply District No. 1 for upgrades to the district’s water system. The project is expected to total nearly $3.5 million and is anticipated to be completed by October 2023.
The project will include replacing more than 55,000 feet of water mains throughout the district, along with all required fittings, valves, hydrants, service connections and meters. The project will also include other improvements, including the addition of chlorination equipment. These improvements will provide the district with the ability to offer its citizens safe drinking water for years to come with a modern and well-functioning drinking water system.
The funding for the project consists of a $2 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) grant, a $711,000 DWSRF loan and a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The funding provided by the department is estimated to save the district’s ratepayers $2 million in principal and approximately $452,000 in interest over the loan’s 30-year term.
“Access to abundant, clean water is the most basic, yet most crucial need for any community to remain strong and vibrant,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Strong communities make a strong Missouri, and we are absolutely committed to ensuring that our communities can continue to maintain and improve their water treatment systems.
“Grants and low-interest loans through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund help Missouri communities with treatment system improvements that they might not have been able to undertake otherwise,” said Dru Buntin, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “We are here to help Missouri communities plan and fund infrastructure improvements that will help protect public and environmental health and provide local economic benefits as well.”
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 who borrow from the fund benefit from the below-market interest rate and from assistance provided throughout their project from a project manager.
The department is committed to assisting Missouri communities with water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. Through its Financial Assistance Center, the department provides funding opportunities for qualified communities with water quality, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure needs. 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/business-industry-other-entities/financial-opportunities/financial-assistance-center.