Water Division

St. Louis, MO – Alderman Michael Browning, PIUC Chair, will introduce the Water Rate Board Bill this Thursday, May 21 as the rate hike proposal is given a first-read during the Board of Aldermen meeting, beginning at 10 a.m. in Room 230 of City Hall.

The bill is expected to reflect a six year schedule of gradually-decreasing rate adjustments designed to both stabilize the Water Division and allow for the build-out of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) designed to ensure that the Division mission is not only met but sustained for generations to come.

Spencer Gould, City of St. Louis Water Division Deputy Commissioner of Water, says, “Good stewardship of a municipal water system requires leadership willing to confront difficult challenges. The Water Division has been clear about the situation throughout this year, and this Administration and Board of Aldermen have shown they are willing to do the hard work necessary to stabilize the City’s water system with a plan grounded in engineering studies, financial analysis, and a clear long term strategy. This proposal reflects a serious, data driven effort to address aging infrastructure and ensure the continued delivery of safe, reliable water service into the future.”

The Board Bill follows the recommendation of a Revenue Sufficiency Study commissioned last year and completed by engineering consulting firm Black and Veatch. The results of the study were released this month and identified significant shortfalls in revenue, reserves, and projected ability to address aging infrastructure and CIP goals.

The full report is available on the “Water Rates Review” page at stlwater.com along with more information on the rate review process.