Missouri recognizes that providing safe and reliable drinking water is essential to protect human health, promote social wellbeing and stimulate economic development. According to Section 1420(c) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, in order for Missouri to receive its full allotment of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Capitalization Grant funds, the state must develop and implement a capacity development strategy to assist public water systems in acquiring and maintaining technical, managerial and financial (TMF) capacity. TMF capacity creates sustainable systems that consistently provide safe, reliable and affordable drinking water.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is responsible for capacity development in Missouri. Missouri’s capacity development strategy is broadly designed to provide a framework for sustainable, long-term operations of public water systems. The strategy is described in two documents, existing and new systems strategies.
New Public Water Systems Strategy
Approved by EPA in 1999, the new systems strategy applies to community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems that began operating after Oct. 1, 1999. The new systems strategy provides a mechanism for Missouri to assist these systems in demonstrating TMF capacity with respect to all national primary drinking water regulations (Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR Part 141) and Missouri’s drinking water regulations (Code of State Regulations 10 CSR 60).
Existing Public Water Systems Strategy
The existing systems strategy focuses on community and nontransient noncommunity water systems that began operating on or before Oct. 1, 1999, but is broadly applicable to all public water systems in Missouri. EPA approved the department’s existing systems strategy in 1999, and again in 2023, following revision and update of the original strategy. With assistance from the Capacity Development Advisory Committee, the department updated the existing systems strategy to reflect current conditions and recommendations for enhancement. This edition describes how the department will encourage public water systems to develop asset management plans that include best practices for asset management. The updated strategy also describes how the department will use technical assistance to help public water systems train operators or other relevant and appropriate persons to implement the asset management plans.