01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Missouri American Water keeps quality on tap
Missouri American Water has continued providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable water and wastewater service since 1886. With nearly 140 years of experience, the company has become a leader in the water and wastewater industry.
Serving approximately 1.6 million Missourians, we strictly follow regulations that are set by local authorities as well as federal standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). We understand how important water and wastewater service is to daily life. When you need it, you expect it to be there.
Water quality
For 22 years, six of our treatment plants have been recognized with the Directors Award from the Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary initiative developed by six prestigious drinking water organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For a second year in a row, Missouri American Water has won the Drinking Water Taste Test award at the joint MO-AWWA/MWEA conference.
The company's Water Quality Reports are published online and are updated each spring.
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Investing in aging infrastructure
Recently released grades from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2025 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, a comprehensive assessment of the nation's 18 major infrastructure categories, paint a grim and stagnant picture for water and wastewater systems across the U.S. Drinking water infrastructure received a grade of C-, while wastewater infrastructure earned a D+. These grades haven't changed or improved in the four years since the ASCE 2021 Report Card.
With over 1 trillion dollars in infrastructure investments needed in water and wastewater across the country over the next two decades, Missouri American Water continues to work with local, state and federal leaders to provide expertise and investment in communities that need to strengthen their water and wastewater systems. Providing high quality water and wastewater service is our top priority.
Customers and community leaders can view an interactive map of the company's pipe replacement projects. Projects are prioritized based on main break rate, system criticality and coordination with state and local governments.
Passing of SB 4
Recently, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a bill that will allow private utilities in Missouri to plan rates based on future costs versus historical costs. This helps utility companies, like Missouri American Water, plan for necessary investments while focusing on rate stability. Built-in projections help safeguard customers from being overcharged if actual costs are lower than estimated.
Why Future Test Year is good public policy:
Incentivizes greater infrastructure investment
Attracts business and makes Missouri more competitive for economic development
Aligns Missouri with most other states, which use modern rate-setting tools to balance customer protection and investment needs
Keeps rates predictable by allowing utilities to invest in new technologies and perform necessary maintenance to improve reliability
Excess charges will be refunded to customers if projected costs are overestimated, creating a fairer system where customers only pay for actual, justified expenses
Helping Eureka solve water and wastewater challenges
In 2022, Missouri American Water began providing water and wastewater service to the city of Eureka. Prior to the acquisition, the city found it increasingly difficult and costly to meet federal and state regulations and find personnel with the ability to operate the systems efficiently. Many residents complained about the aesthetic qualities of the city's drinking water which was supplied by wells.
In addition to the purchase price of $28 million, Missouri American Water pledged to invest $37 million over the next 10 years to improve the city's water quality, upgrade aging infrastructure and maintain regulatory compliance. With the acquisition, we welcomed the city employees as our own. Construction of a five-mile pipeline to our St. Louis Treatment Plant was completed in late 2024. As of May, all Eureka residents and businesses are receiving water that is treated at our Central Plant in Chesterfield. The company is actively replacing aged meters with Advanced Meter Infrastructure. These investments will improve Eureka's water quality while allowing for proactive leak detection.
