City will plan and design drinking water system improvements
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 30, 2025 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $437,000 no-interest loan to the city of Everton for planning and design work related to the city’s ongoing drinking water improvement project.
Provided through the department’s Planning and Design Loan Program, the loan will supply vital interim financing to cover early engineering and administrative costs while the city works with the department to secure a larger funding package for its drinking water project. The improvement project is expected to total $1.8 million, with construction starting this year.
A large water or wastewater project’s early planning phases often represent a significant financial burden for cash-limited communities. The department’s goal is to provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive private financing that allows Missouri communities to develop and deliver vital infrastructure projects for their citizens. These loans bear no interest and come with a five-year term. With the department’s assistance, the city’s ratepayers will save approximately $78,400 in interest over the loan’s five-year term.
“The financial assistance packages we offer can make all the difference in being able to provide safe drinking water to Missourians, support communities and ensure their infrastructure projects are successful and affordable,” said Kurt Schaefer, director of the Department of Natural Resources.
The department’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants, distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, and for interconnection or consolidation projects. Communities that borrow from the fund benefit from the below-market interest rates and from assistance a project manager provides throughout the project.
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/what-were-doing/state-revolving-fund-srf.