What some companies are doing for national infrastructure week

Joplin, MO – In celebration of National Infrastructure Week (May 16-20, 2022), Missouri American Water is highlighting its planned investment of approximately $400 million in water and wastewater system upgrades across the state this year.  This investment is estimated to create 2,400 direct jobs to support project design and construction, and an additional 3,600 indirect jobs from the indirect and induced spending of the investment, according to the Value of Water Campaign.

Crews are completing a two-phase project replacing approximately 12,000 feet of 2-inch pipe with 8-inch pipe near Royal Heights Elementary. This project will further enhance both water system reliability and fire protection. Improvements are also underway at the water treatment plant. Construction of a new high-service pump station will be completed by December of this year. The high service pumps deliver water from the treatment plant throughout the more than 530 miles of water main serving the Joplin area. 

“The new high-service pumps are critical to the continued reliability and delivery of water service to our customers,” said Matthew Barnhart, Director of Operations for the Southwest Division of Missouri American Water. “We’re also replacing water pipe that is reaching the end of its useful life with new, larger pipe, which provides additional flow for our local firefighters.”