Kirkwood, Missouri Development News

Kirkwood Council Reviews Water Master Plan Update and Discusses Water Rate Adjustments

The city council discussed updates to water rates and infrastructure projects for the city of Kirkwood. A water master plan update, last completed in 2014, was commissioned by the city water department and hired CMT to provide an updated list of priority water mains for the next five years. This update included a hydraulic model to identify system inefficiencies and a risk assessment of the water system based on age and material of pipes. The plan recommended a 1.5% water main replacement rate, which translates to 2.2 miles of water main replacement annually out of a total of 148 miles. The current system has 80% cast iron pipes, which are prone to leakage. The cost for main replacement, including construction and design, is estimated at $450 per square foot. The city has undertaken several projects over the past five years with an average cost of just under $400 per foot. The presentation also addressed the city's efforts to comply with EPA and Missouri DNR mandates to eliminate lead service lines by 2037, noting that out of 10,258 service lines, 587 are confirmed lead, 209 are confirmed galvanized, and 1462 are of unknown material. Proposed rate increases include a 0% increase in FY28, followed by an 8.5% increase in FY30. The city aims to maintain a reserve of at least $2 million. The current bill for a Kirkwood resident with a 3/4 inch meter is $64.63, compared to Missouri American Water's estimated bill of $56.74 for the same service. However, Missouri American Water is proposing a rate increase of an average of $26 per month (30%) in July 2026, which would bring their bill to $72.91. Concerns were raised about the comparison of rates, the potential sale of the water system, and the long-term financial implications for residents. The discussion also touched upon past transfers of funds from the water department to streets and other projects, which may have impacted infrastructure upgrades.