Water usage concerns raised in Southwest Columbia as development in area continues

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Concerns about water-issues in Southwest Columbia are being raised after the Columbia City Council approved the zoning and development plans for another business in the area.

Land for Diventures of Columbia was approved on the south of Vawter School Road, east of Scott Boulevard. Diventures plans to offer swim lessons, SCUBA certification, a concierge travel service and more.

Another new development in the same area, Trail Stop Brewery, that is currently being build along Scott Boulevard. will include a restaurant, brewery and pickleball court.

Julie Ryan, of the Columbia Safe Water Coalition, said the development is great for the growth on the Southwest side of town, but there isn't the infrastructure to support it.

"We still don't have the water tower that was promised to voters through the 2018 water bond. That was part of the one of the projects that was promoted," Ryan said. "The problem we have, though, is that the city is not maintaining sufficient infrastructure. The water that we get that comes down to this area comes all the way from the water tower on Walnut St."

Fifth Ward Councilman Don Waterman said based on reports by city staff, the infrastructure is able to support the development.

"Diventures actually, once they get the pool filled, is not going to be as probably water intensive on a continuous basis as the brewpub," Waterman said.

However, Waterman does agree a water tower is still necessary to maintain quality water pressure to the surrounding neighborhoods.

"The low water pressure is an issue and has been an issue in Thornbrooke for a long time. There's a water tower needed down there. We are working to acquire some properties so that we can put a water tower in," Waterman said.

Ryan believes the delay on the water tower shows a lack of transparency between the City Council and residents.

"The fact that this water tower was supposed to have been built, it was actually reported to have supposed to have been completed by 2021 and now we're sitting here three years later, we still don't have that water tower and we don't have any good indication from the city of when they intend to actually make this happen," Ryan said.

Waterman said until the water tower is built, or another solution is put in place, the city has asked residents to adhere to a voluntary water schedule.

"We ask that they water on a schedule to try and maintain it. You know, we're hoping that we can, you know, be able to move forward with water tower and, you know, address that issue. I mean, it's it's got to be done. So hopefully we want to move forward with that, get that built," Waterman said.

Ryan said the Safe Water Coalition also plans to raise concerns to the council about its plan to possibly raise water rates.

"We, as ratepayers, are not seeing any bang for our buck in terms of what they're doing to upgrade our facilities, to make sure our infrastructure is current and to make sure it's taken care of," Ryan said. "So, we will be sitting there very vocal about this water rate increase because we need to see things getting done, not just more money going in and being mismanaged."

Water rates will be discussed at the Aug. 5 City Council meeting, according to the city's website.

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