COMO Safe Water Coalition

08/17/2026

We'll be at the Council meeting tonight. There is a continuing care retirement community up for approval at the corner of Vawter School and Scott Blvd in an area of town that is years behind in getting a new water tower and has had low pressure issues.

Development and growth are great when done with intention and with sufficient infrastructure to support it.

08/03/2026

Tabled continuing care retirement community item until 8/17 per applicant request.

There are a number of items related to the water utility on the City Council meeting agenda for this evening.

* Council will vote on raising water rates for FY2027. There is a proposed 10% revenue increase they estimate will generate $3.4 million. Specifics of how the rates will change can be found here: https://gocolumbiamo.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15697177&GUID=7117338B-BCA6-44C5-85F9-9D8D32EF0F17

* Council will consider and vote on the plans for the continuing care retirement community to be developed on the property at the corner of Vawter School and Scott Blvd

* Council will vote on authorizing the sale of over $39 million of bonds to fund advanced metering infrastructure for water and electric

As far as the water rates and bonds, this is just another example of seeing the City trying to buy their way out of mismanagement. The proactive and planned approach to the utility that we've asked for over the past 10 years still isn't happening, and these reactive measures are the result.

The continuing care retirement community is planned to be an 181-unit complex that most certainly will pull from the water supply. This is in an area with evidence of low pressure incidents in the distribution system, and the City's continued emphasis on irrigation as the root cause is irresponsible. There has been no water tower built as proposed in the 2018 Water Bond that voters approved. Continuous development without adequate infrastructure is again another example of the City's inability to take a measured and intentional approach to growth.

06/10/2026

We'll be at the meeting tonight regarding the city's proposed irrigation ordinance.

Our graphic highlights some key points.

Bottom line...

infrastructure failures
+
additional development
≠
irrigation ordinance

Conservation is good when done with encouragement.
Having a plan for periods of drought is proactive.

You can't keep building and building without sufficient infrastructure and propose this ordinance at the same time.

02/19/2026

Let's clarify some things...

* Our disinfection methods won't be better. They'll be the same, just with newer equipment.

* While there will be some improved removal of "dirt" in the water aka "natural chemicals" as referred to, there will not be removal of most contaminants of concern like PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater indicators.

* Production isn't increasing from 24 MGD to 32 MGD, it is being restored. The plant was already built at 32 MGD but was allowed to fall into disrepair. So we the ratepayers helped to fund this repair. The City patting themselves on the back for this is ludicrous.

* COVID didn't cause the project to be delayed and therefore prompting an increase in construction costs. The City's inability to complete utility projects effectively is the reason. Other communities proceeded with projects during COVID just fine.

* Such a joke to say they delayed the project instead of raising rates. Rates have been raised. Project costs were never coming down. There was no looking out for ratepayers.

* The filters may be rebuilt, but there will be no granular activated carbon in them. They won't clean out the contaminants of highest concern.

* Much cleaner water for several decades? We still will not have eliminated chloramine disinfection. The necessity of having to continue to disinfect with chloramine means the water isn't clean.

* Artificial, non-pharmaceutical grade fluoride will still be added. Brand new equipment for hazardous material that contributes to lower IQ in children.

There may be new equipment, but there is no new vision for the water quality of Columbia.

Upgrades to The McBaine Water Treatment Plant are on track to wrap up in August and improve Columbia's water quality.