Radio-read meters and elevated storage tank
Read more: Local, Monroe County, Audrain County, Montgomery County, Drinking Water, Water Supply District Number 2
MONROE CO., MO. -- Some counties in Northeast Missouri got a big boost to their water supply Friday, March 19th.
Monroe County Public Water Supply District Number two was presented with nearly $3 million to make improvements to its drinking water.
KHQA's Jarod Wells was at the ceremony to find out what changes you can expect to see.
The check for more than $2.4 million will pay for quite a bit of improvement.
Monroe County PWSD #2 Board Chairman Richard Webber said, "It's going to go for meter reading technology to eliminate us from having to read the meter monthly."
It will also help build a new 100,000 gallon elevated storage tank. The money came in the form of grants and a loan. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources gave the district two grants equaling more than one-point-three-million dollars. They also provided a million dollar loan through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's State Revolving Fund Program. Another $500,000 grant came from The Department of Economic Developments Community Development Block Grant Program, which brings the grand total to just more than $2.9 million.
Why is this project so badly needed in these areas?
Webber said, "In many of these areas, particularly in Northern Audrain County and parts of Monroe County, the rural water table is not very beneficial, and if there is water, there is generally it is very high in sulfur and very hard as well."
There is no health risk with the current drinking water, but better water is badly needed in the three counties Monroe County Public Water District Number two serves customers in, Monroe, Audrain and Montgomery counties.
Webber said, "It's no health risk, it's just the taste."
A total of 2,700 water meters will be replaced with new radio read meters.
The new radio system will send the water readings directly to the water district without someone having to physically read them.
That project could be done by September or October of this year.
The new storage tank project is already underway and should be done in the next few months.
