Municipal wastewater regulations are ever-changing and compliance can be very expensive. I am contacted by communities across northeast Missouri on a regular basis for assistance in navigating the wastewater permitting process. In most cases, these rules come down from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for enforcing them. Smaller towns have a tougher time keeping up with the standards as they have fewer financial resources.

DNR is doing what it can to assist communities with this process and can even provide funding when possible. Applications are now being accepted from communities with planning or design assistance needs for wastewater treatment and collection facilities.

The department’s Small Community Engineering Assistance Grant Program is offering the grants to communities serving populations of fewer than 10,000. The goal of the program is to help small communities obtain wastewater engineering services necessary to plan and design wastewater treatment and collection facilities.

Funding from the Small Community Engineering Assistance Grant Program may be used to cover the costs of engineering services, environmental investigations or services incurred in preparation of a facility plan. Applications are prioritized based on when they are received, as well as on the project’s environmental impact based upon a priority point system.

Eligible communities may be selected to receive up to $50,000. Applications will be accepted at any time. The grant funds come from non-program administration fees and will be administered by DNR. Additional information is available from the department’s Water Protection Program.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you.