Pilot Grove awarded $4.8 million from DNR for wastewater treatment improvements

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Cooper County town was awarded $4.8 million in financial assistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resource for upgrades to its wastewater treatment system, according to a Wednesday press release from the DNR.

It will cost a total of $6.28 million to upgrade Pilot Grove’s system and the city expects the project to be completed by May 2027, the release says. The project is designed to improve the water quality in Petite Saline Creek “by reducing pollutants and untreated discharges to the creek,” the release says.

Funding from the DNR consists of a $2 million loan and a $2.76 million grant through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the release says.

There will also be $700,000 in city funds and $750,000 through a Community Development Block Grant, the release says. Funding is expected to save the city $1.5 million in interest during the loan’s 30-year period, the DNR says.