Projects | City of St. Louis

Comprehensive Water Master Plan

On June 04, 2025 Niraj S. Patel P.E., Director of Public Utilities, issued a Notice to Proceed to HDR Engineering Inc. authorizing work defined in PSA 1296 – Comprehensive Water Master Plan for the City of St. Louis Water Division.

This project will deliver a detailed, long-term strategy that assesses and plans for improvements to the treatment plants and the distribution system to ensure the long-term sustainability, reliability, and resilience of the entire drinking water system. Recognizing the complexity of modern water utility management, this plan will be developed through a structured, collaborative, and data-driven approach, employing a series of focused tasks and interactive workshops. The report generated will provide a roadmap for infrastructure improvements with cost estimates and capital investment prioritization. Project completion is anticipated within twelve months from the date of the Notice to Proceed.

Power & Pumping

In accordance with Ordinance #71683; Updated May 1, 2025.

The funding for these projects has come through the Water Division’s revenues.

Refurbish CR Distributive pumping unit #1 – In Progress
- The pump is 65 years old and had a mechanical failure
- Rebuild and replace pump rotating assembly and upgraded instrumentation
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $175K
Replace CR Distributive pump #2 – Completed FY25
- The original 65 years old pump and was beyond repair due to major failure
- Procurement of new 30 MGD pump (2 year lead time)
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $1.3M
Refurbish CR Distributive pumping unit #3 – Completed FY25
- The pump is 65 years old and had a mechanical failure
- Replace pump rotating assembly and upgraded instrumentation
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $75K
Refurbish HB High Service pumping unit #11 – In Progress
- The pump is 55 years old and was becoming inefficient and unreliable
- Replace rotating assembly and bearings, refurbish discharge cone valve
- Design, fabricated and install new access platform
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $200K
Refurbish HB Intake well #4 – In Progress
- The equipment is over 50 years old and had a mechanical failure
- Replaced screen machine super-structure and rotating equipment
- Replaced 1 separator gate actuator
- City Water and Contractor – estimated cost $250K
SCADA upgrades for pumping units at both Plants – In-Progress
- This project improves monitoring of aging pumping infrastructure
- Installing electrical, communication, PLCs, instrumentation
- City Water and contractor – estimated cost $150K
Replace HB surge relief valves – Completed FY25
- Replace two 8” & two 10” surge relief valves for asset protection
- Existing valves were in poor condition and at end of life
- City Water and contractor – total cost $175K
Replacement of Stacy Park Roof Expansion Panels – Completed FY25
- Re-designed to improve performance of expansion joint panels
- Replaced damaged expansion panels to protect the reservoir
- City Water and contactor – total cost $150K
Flow meter work @ both Plants – In Progress
- Howard Bend Water Treatment Plant:
  - Install 4 new flowmeters in HB pipelines to measure finished water flow rate
  - City Water and Contractor – total estimated cost $325K
- Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant:
  - Refurbish 4 flowmeters in CR Distributive Pump Station
  - City Water and Contractor – estimated cost $80K
Howard Bend Substation Reliability Testing – In Progress
- 34,500 volt electrical equipment has been increasingly unreliable, causing power disruptions to the treatment plant
- Extensive electrical testing and evaluation is being performed
- Contractor – total cost $60K
Howard Bend Substation Switch Replacements – In Progress
- 34,500 volt gang operated switches are unreliable and have had mechanical failures
- Contractor – estimated cost $250K
Howard Bend Sludge House Transformer Relocation – In Progress
- The sludge houses at Howard Bend have electrical equipment below grade that is damaged during flooding.
- This project relocates electrical equipment to protect it during extreme weather events
- Contractor – estimated cost $60K

Supply & Purifying

Refurbished Chlorine Equipment @ both Plants – Completed FY25
- Rebuilt all evaporators, chlorinators, and general overhaul of all equipment and appurtenances to ensure safety and reliability of this critical system
- Replaced all chlorine hoses for transfer from cylinders.
- City Water – total cost $125K
Refurbished 2 filters @ HB Filter Plant (program) – Completed FY25
- Replaced filter media and associated filter valves
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $300K
Refurbish 2 filters @ HB Filter Plant (program) – In Progress
- Replaced filter media and associated filter valves
- City Water and contractor – estimated cost $300K
Refurbish 1 filter @ CR Filter Plant – In-Progress
- City Water – estimated cost $100K
Replaced Filter Valves in the HB Filter Plant – Completed FY25
- Existing valves needing replacement were unreliable due to age
- Replaced valves from 8”, 18”, and 24” in Pipe Gallery
- Contractor – total cost $300K
Replaced HB Basin 3 Clarifier Rake and Support Structure – Completed FY25
- Existing equipment had mechanical failure and needed replacement to restore operability
- Contractor – total cost $360K
Refurbish CR Clarifier #3 Gearbox – In-Progress
- Gearbox cleaning, general maintenance and replacement of bad parts
- Replaced gearbox parts and lubricate all gears
- Contractor – total cost $150K
New Lime Feed Pump @ CR Coagulant House with VFD – Completed FY25
- Improved performance and efficiency and reduced operating cost
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $55K
Replaced Turbidimeters at HB Filter Plant – Completed FY25
- Replaced 22 legacy instruments
- Improved reliability and performance for a critical compliance program
- Contractor – total cost $150K
Dehumidifier for CR Softening Basin Complex – In-Progress
- Existing unit failed due to age and needs replacement to protect assets in pipe and valve gallery
- Contractor – estimated cost $70K
CR Chlorine Building Large Door Replacements (12 total) – Completed FY25
- Existing doors need replacement due to age and corrosion damage
- Contractor – total cost $110K

Construction & Maintenance

Replaced the Howard Bend Fuel Pumps – Completed FY25
- Replaced diesel and gas dispensers and hoses
  Updated Automatic Tank Gauge system
- Contractor – total cost $70K
Replaced the CR Primary Pumping Maintenance Shop Roof – Completed FY25
- Contractor – total cost $55K
Replaced the CR Head House Roof – In Progress
- Includes repairing the fascia for the Screen House
- Contractor – estimated cost $90K
Repair the CR Basin #8 East Wall Concrete – In Progress
- Repair deteriorated concrete and replace existing handrail
- Contractor – estimated cost $225K

Laboratory

Installed New ICP-MS – Completed FY25
- This equipment will support meeting increased compliance for
- Lead and Copper Rule Improvements testing
- Contractor – total cost $150K

Transmission & Distribution

East Grand & Hall 12” Water Main Replacements – Completed FY25
- The main was in poor condition and had become prone to failures
- Replaced approximately 1300’ of water main
- Contractor – total cost $857K ($857,371 from SLFRF ARPA Grant)
Marconi Avenue 6” Water Main Replacement – Completed FY25
- The main was in poor condition and had become prone to failures
- Replaced approximately 500’ of residential water main
- City Water – total cost $200K
Hampton & Columbia 36” Valve Replacement – Completed FY25
- Existing valve had failed and needed to be replaced to restore operability
- Included installation of by-pass piping and replacement of a fire hydrant
- Contractor – total cost $350K
Macklind & Oakland 48” Valve Replacement and Vault Reconstruction – In Progress
- Existing valve has failed and needs to be replaced to restore operability
- Contractor – estimated cost $660K
Clayton & Oakland 36” Valve Replacement – In Progress
- Existing valve has failed and needs to be replaced to restore operability
- Contractor – estimated cost $370K ($342,629 from SLFRF ARPA Grant)
Clayton Ave. & Hampton Ave. 36” Valve Replacement – In Progress
- Existing valve has failed and needs to be replaced to restore operability
- Contractor – estimated cost $340K
East Grand & 20th 36” BFV – Completed FY25
- Existing valve had failed and needed to be replaced to restore operability
- Contractor – total cost $350K
Clayton & Big Bend 60” Water Main Repair – In Progress
- The water main has leaks at several couplings and requires replacement of approximately 40’ of pipe
- Contractor – estimated cost $840K
North 13th & Branch 36” Water Main and Valve Replacement – Completed FY25
- The water main failed in November 2024, resulting in a Boil Water Advisory
- Contractor – total cost $760K

Meter, Tap, & Customer Service

Water Meter Replacement Project – In Progress
- Replaces obsolete water meters to improve accuracy and reliability
- Improves customer experience w/ upgrade to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
- Reduces labor costs to manually read water meters
- ~ 9,000 of 12,500 water meters upgraded
- Contractor – total cost to date – $9.7M

IT/OT Administration

Lead Service line Inventory – Completed FY25
- Digitized historical records for data entry into Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI)
- Published LSLI to our website for public viewing per EPA regulation
- Mailed letters to approximately 80,000 customers notifying them of the hazards of lead and water as it relates to their water service line
- City Water and Contractor – total cost $275K ($200K from State of MO ARPA Grant Award)
Legacy Hardware Replacement – Completed FY25
- Replaced 20 Legacy Programmable Logic Controllers responsible for automated backwash and filter effluent compliance monitoring.
- Contractor – total cost $145K
Optical Fiber Connectivity – Completed FY25
- Installed new optical fiber between Chain of Rocks
- Head House & Chain of Rocks Coagulant House.
- Contractor – estimated cost $40K
Upgrades to Customer Billing System – Completed FY25
- Migrated existing Water Division Customer Billing
- Software to cloud for future upgrades.
- Contractor – estimated cost $55K

City of St. Louis Capital Projects

Updated May 1, 2025.

Rehabilitation of the River intake at the Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant – $12,000,000.00
The Chain of Rocks draws water from the Mississippi River through an intake on the Western shores of the river. The intake is approximately 100 years old making its operation challenging. While some repairs have been completed additional work needs to be done. This funding would complete the renovations to the intake.
60” Riveted Steel Main and Line Valves Replacement – $8,000,000.00
This water main is critical to the operation and resilience of the water distribution system and is at the end of its useful life. It needs to be replaced along with several 48” line valves.
Hampton Ave. Water Main Replacement/Rehabilitation – $6,000,000.00
The 36” water main in Hampton Ave. has proven to be unreliable and has been taken out of service. This project would install a liner inside of the existing pipe restoring it to a useful condition. Restoring this water main will increase our distribution system resiliency in emergency situations. These large diameter water mains are utilized to move water across our distribution system. Design for this work is partly completed.
Substation/Power Distribution Upgrades at Both of the City’s Two Water Treatment Plants – $8,000,000.00
This would involve rewinding transformers, replacing switches w/ remote operators, MCC upgrades, and switchgear upgrades. The treatment plants receive electrical service at a high voltage to reduce costs. The electrical substations step down the voltage so that it can be utilized by the plant’s equipment and protect against damage due to faults and electrical system failures. The substations are 50+ years old and their components are starting to fail. Emergency repairs continue to put a strain on our resources. Design for this work would need to be performed.
Replacement of Pumps, Motors and Controls – $40,000,000.00
The raw water and finished water pumps at the City’s two water treatment plants are 50+ years old. This project would replace several of them. This can be broken down into smaller projects spreading out the total costs over time.
Small Diameter Water Main Replacements – $150,000,000.00
There are approximately 1,300 miles of water mains spread throughout the City. The water mains that serve our neighborhoods are typically 6” or 8” in diameter providing water service to residential customers. The water mains that will be replaced are those that have been failing resulting in the interruption of service to our customers. The number of water mains replaced can be matched to the available funds.
Vacated Lawton Place and Teachers Dr. Water Main Rehabilitation – $1,500,000.00
The 20” water main at this location is becoming increasingly unreliable. This project would install a liner inside the water main to renew it. Lining a water main restores the water main to a “new” condition without the costs and disruption of digging up an old water main and replacing it.
Condition Assessment of Transmission Conduits – $5,000,000.00
These three conduits transmit water from the Howard Bend Water Treatment Plant to the City limits. They are critical for the utility operations and their condition needs to be assessed. The Howard Bend Plant is approximately 17 miles from the city limits. These conduits are 6 feet in diameter ranging in age from 50 to 100 years old and transmit tens of millions of gallons per day. One example of a failure of these conduits caused flooding of Interstate 64 / Highway 40 and ripple effects such as water pressure issues in City neighborhoods.
Howard Bend Water Treatment Plant Electrical Relocation – $2,000,000.00
This project involves replacing a portion of the treatment plant’s electrical power feed lines which run through a failing/abandoned facility. All of the electricity powering the plant is transmitted through these lines, which makes them critical to the plant’s operations. These lines are starting to have issues and should be relocated and replaced.
Rehabilitation of a Softening Basin at the Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant – $3,000,000.00
This facility serves to soften our source water at the head of the treatment process and is a critical step in producing high quality water for our citizens. The mechanical components of this facility are in need of rehabilitation to continue reliable service.
Rehabilitation of the Chain of Rocks Filter Plant Underdrains – $10,000,000.00
The Chain of Rocks Filter Plant was once the largest rapid sand facility of its kind when it was built 111 years ago. It is in need of major rehabilitation or replacement. The failing underdrain systems are increasingly more difficult to rebuild, and a new system needs to be installed in order to restore performance.
Emergency backup power at our system’s two water treatment plants – $30,000,000.00
This project would install electrical generators at the two treatment plants to meet the minimum electrical needs of the plants in an emergency. The Water Division has seen an increase in interruptions of electrical service to the Water Division’s water treatment plants due to storms and tornadoes. In addition, the duration of electrical service outages has increased. Emergency backup power will increase the resiliency and security of the City’s water supply since water cannot be treated or pumped to our customers without electricity.
Comprehensive Water Master Plan – $1,300,000
This project will evaluate and assess water infrastructure at both of our Water Treatment Plants and in the Distribution System and project demand forecasts for the next 20 years to assess the adequacy of system capacity to meet those demands. It will review our regulatory compliance and develop strategies to meet current and future rules or requirements and evaluate risks and cost implications. It will provide a prioritized capital renewal project list and plan with cost estimates and review finances and funding to evaluate the Water Division’s current financial standing, the rate making process, and develop future rate scenarios based on the capital renewal plan. Lastly, it will provide technical memorandums and reports for both internal and external use and support the Water Division in engagement with various stakeholders in the community.