AWWA ACE94066

By the early 1980s, small water systems in Northeast Missouri were beginning to feel the burden of increasing regulations, decreasing raw water supplies, and rising costs. As a result, the Clarence Cannon Wholesale Water Commission (CCWWC), a regional wholesale supplier of potable water, was organized in October, 1983. Realizing that the most important element of a regional water wholesaler was a raw water source, the small group set out to find such a water source. After working with officials at the state and local levels, consensus was reached that the most reliable and long term source of water for Northeast Missouri was Mark Twain Lake. This Corps of Engineers project was still under construction at the time. However, the lake was to have potable water storage space included in the overall project. The CCWWC successfully negotiated a contract with the Corps of Engineers and the State of Missouri for the withdrawal of water from Mark Twain Lake. Now that the source was secure, financing the construction of a treatment plant and transmission system was the next step. Under Missouri law, in order for the CCWWC to float a revenue bond issue, even though it was a separate political entity unto itself, all twelve members had to pass the bond issue, in each of their respective jurisdictions. A massive campaign was undertaken to inform the public about the CCWWC and the bond issue. On November 4, 1989, the revenue bond passed in all twelve jurisdictions by an overwhelming 95% approval rate. With the financing in place, construction got underway in 1991, and the system was ready to deliver water to its wholesale customers by June, 1992.