en.Wedoany.com Reported - Missouri American Water recently filed a new rate application with the Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC) to support approximately $1.6 billion in water and wastewater system investments from June 2025 to May 2028, aimed at critical infrastructure upgrades and water quality improvements. The company stated that this investment will ensure more reliable service for over 1.7 million customers across the state.
Rich Svindland, President of Missouri American Water, stated that these investments enhance service reliability and improve water quality from treatment to the tap, while reflecting employees' commitment to community health and safety. The proposed rate changes will support the company's ongoing upgrades and modernization of water and wastewater systems over this three-year period. Specific investments include replacing approximately 140 miles of aging water and wastewater pipes, upgrading storage tanks, wells, pump stations, fire hydrants, meters, and wastewater treatment plants, as well as continuing the replacement of lead service lines and improving treatment facilities to meet regulatory requirements for PFAS and other emerging contaminants.
Key investment projects are distributed as follows: In St. Louis County, the South Plant intake will be relocated and replaced to a higher elevation to reduce flood risk, while raw water pumps, emergency power generation equipment, and aging pump components will be replaced to improve operational efficiency and reduce service interruptions during extreme weather; in Jefferson City, new filter basins and chemical feed buildings will be constructed to update critical infrastructure that has exceeded its service life; in St. Joseph, the water treatment plant will be expanded, including new clarifiers and filters, rehabilitation of treatment units, and upgrades to chemical feed systems; in Joplin, water quality and reliability will be maintained through new carbon feed systems, upgrades to well field treatment facilities, and improved filter backwashing; in wastewater treatment, a series of equipment upgrades and lift station construction will enhance treatment reliability and environmental compliance.
If the rate application is approved by the MoPSC, the average residential water bill for a typical customer using 5,900 gallons per month in St. Louis County will increase by approximately $23 per month; for residential customers outside the county using an average of 4,500 gallons per month, the water bill will increase by about $15 per month. Wastewater rates will also be adjusted accordingly, with moderate increases for low-usage customers and larger adjustments for high-usage and unmetered customers to align with service costs. Missouri American Water also offers the H2O Help to Others assistance program, budget billing options, and flexible payment plans to help income-eligible customers maintain affordability.
This rate application is the first step in a lengthy review process by the MoPSC, which may take up to 11 months. Customers can express their opinions by submitting written comments or participating in public comment hearings. If approved, the new rates could take effect in June 2027. Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, with over 700 employees serving approximately 1.7 million people. As the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, American Water operates in 14 states and 18 military facilities, serving approximately 14 million people.
