The forming of Public Water Supply District #1

We would like to supply some background and timeline on why/when the Public Water Supply District #1 was formed.  Like many large scale projects, this was not a simple task.  The current Board Members would like to thank all those who were instrumental in the completion of this project, those who continue to volunteer their time and skills to keep it running, and those who may, some day, participate in its future.
 

• 1966 - Peaceful Valley Property Owners Association (PVPOA) was established for Peaceful Valley Lake (PVL) members by five business members of Owensville, Mo. Note-one of very few lake developments with central water and sewer systems.

• 1970 – US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established by the US Congress to protect the US environment.

• 1970 – Mo. Public Service Commission (PSC) begins to set water and sewer rates to protect PVL members from excessive rates.

• 1972 – Peaceful Valley Service Company (PVSC) was established to maintain water and sewer system for PVL members. PVSC was owned by PVL members and governed by P.V.P.O.A. board of directors. PVSC established its own board of directors. The company at that time was a For Profit company.

• 1974 – Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was established by Mo. Congress to enforce EPA regulations.

• 1987 – DNR requires a certified operator to perform day to day operation of PVSC.

• 2013 – EPA established limits on amount of ammonia that can be discharged from sewer lagoons into creeks to protect small living organisms under rocks from excessive ammonia in all Lagoons across the U.S.

• 2013 - PVL lagoon is tested for ammonia discharge once a month. PVL lagoon discharge is out of new EPA ammonia limits.

• 2013 – Engineering firms estimate approximately one million dollars to bring PVL lagoon ammonia discharge to meet EPA regulations.

• 2014 – PVSC board of directors file for rate increase to build up funds to solve the problem.

• 2015 – PSC denies rate increase. Their rules only allow funds to be recouped after they are spent.

• 2015 – Missouri Secretary of State approves PVSC request to become a Not For Profit Company to allow applying for grants.

• May 4. 2016 - PVSC board of directors filed a motion in court to establish a Public Water Supply District to be able to set rates and obtain government grants without PSC rules. Section 1-1 2

• May 20th 2016 - Court approves PVSC Motion. 

• August 2, 2016 -PVL permanent home owners approve PWSD NO. 1 of Gasconade County.

• August 26, 2016 Circuit Court of Gasconade County issues Decree of incorporation of Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Gasconade County. 

• September 17, 2016 - PVSC Board of Directors issues a resolution authorizing the transfer of all assets of PVSC to PWSD NO. 1. 

• PWSD NO. 1 is established in accordance with Missouri revised Statues, Section 247.040.1 “PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICTS” DATED August 28, 2014.

• October 2016 – PWSD NO. 1 is governed by a board of five directors per PWSD NO. 1 bylaws dated October 7, 2016

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Following the initial organization and incorporation of the district in October 2016, Public Water Supply District No. 1 (PWSD #1) of Gasconade County then embarked on a multi-year effort to solve the high-ammonia lagoon discharge crisis and build a compliant facility. 

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Engineering and Funding Exploration (2017–2021)

• Initial Planning: PWSD #1 secured a Small Community Engineering Assistance Program (SCEAP) grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to formally develop a comprehensive facility compliance plan. 

• Financing Hurdles: Operating as a political subdivision allowed the district to bypass rigid Public Service Commission (PSC) rules, enabling the board to legally adjust utility rates and pursue state and federal financing structures.

• Community Mandate: The district worked alongside homeowners to gain local voter approval, authorizing the board to actively pursue a combination of government grants and subsidized infrastructure loans. 

 

Regulatory Approval and Grant Acquisition (2022–2023)

• January 2022: The district issued a critical Annual Rate Update to its members, establishing the necessary local rate baseline required to qualify for matching government funds. 

• March 10, 2023: The Missouri DNR officially issued Construction Permit CP0002341 for the "Peaceful Valley Lake Upgrades Project," authorizing the technical blueprints for the new treatment infrastructure.

• Grant Securitization: The district successfully partnered with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) to apply for and secure a federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to offset the massive capital burden of the build. 

 

Construction Phase (2024)

• April 9, 2024: PWSD #1 formally closed on the WWTF loan and hosted its pre-construction meeting on the same day. The board selected the winning general contractor and authorized breaking ground.

• Build Execution: Heavy infrastructure work took place throughout 2024, converting the non-compliant, open lagoon system into a highly controlled mechanical wastewater plant engineered specifically to eliminate heavy ammonia levels. 

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Completion and Project Close-Out (2025)

• October 2025: The construction phase was finalized. Representatives from the Meramec Regional Planning Commission met with the PWSD #1 Board of Directors at Owensville City Hall to host the formal CDBG public close-out hearing.

• Regulatory Sign-Off: The facility project officially concluded its final permit phase on October 31, 2025, bringing a decade-long environmental compliance struggle to a successful close under full Missouri DNR and EPA standards.