Ash Grove gets $50,000 DNR grant for wastewater study

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded the city of Ash Grove a $50,000 Clean Water Engineering Report grant.
In a press release dated Wednesday, Aug. 24, the DNR announced they had awarded the grant to Ash Grove to “evaluate their wastewater systems.” The agency also awarded a $48,000 grant to Summersville.
The press release stated that the grants would pay for engineering studies that would appraise the cities water and wastewater infrastructure to see where they can be upgraded.
“The grant offers funding to qualified communities to help cover engineering costs for evaluating water and wastewater system improvements,” the release stated. “The two cities will use the grants to identify wastewater system improvements needed to meet permit requirements, continue reliable service to the area and reduce stormwater infiltration into sewer collection pipes. Both facilities’ plans should be complete in January 2024.”
Dru Buntin, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, stated in the release that the studies would produce multiple benefits.
“Thinking creatively and finding viable solutions to infrastructure issues is becoming more crucial and these grants helps communities with wastewater systems projects that might not have been possible before,” he said. “Projects like these will help protect public health and the environment while benefiting local economies.”
The release also said that the grants were at least partially funded with money received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.