The East Locust Creek Water Supply Reservoir was sized and sited to address the most acute and chronic water shortage in the State of Missouri. Because of the geology, topography and climate of the 10 county region around Sullivan County, Missouri, there is a distinct shortage of available raw water. Without ready access to suitable streams and the lack of an adequate fresh water aquifer (underlying deep well water is brackish and untreatable), the area has lived under the threat of drought for decades, leaving a regional surface water impoundment as the only viable cost effective option for water supply to the service area.
The Needs
Sufficient water to allow regional growth
Consolidation of water suppliers for efficiency and sustainability.
Resiliency and redundancy to address droughts and disasters
Affordable water for a largely disadvantaged area
Through discussion with MDNR staff, a list of systems that have stopped producing water in the region since the 1980s was developed. This map shows those systems, along with the approximate closure dates. The systems have closed for a variety of reasons, but all speak to the trend towards the closure of small systems
The residents of the region are acutely aware of the need for this project as evidenced by their overwhelming financial commitment, including:
- ½ Cent Sullivan County Wide Sales Tax (81.25% in favor) (2010)
- $10 million local bond for land acquisition (2011)
- $6 million local bond for purchase of water plant (2006)
- $1 per 1,000 gallon rate increase to fund the reservoir (by current customers)
- 100% of the property for the reservoir acquired