In 1992, the Missouri legislature enacted the public drinking water primacy fee to support efforts to ensure Missourians have access to adequate water that is safe to drink. The primacy fee provides critical funding for laboratory services and activities the state must perform in order to maintain delegation of the federal drinking water program. Without the primacy fee, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources would lack the funding to implement critical regulations necessary for protecting public health and maintaining primacy. Regulation of Missouri’s public water systems would revert to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The primacy fee is a user fee, paid by the customers of Missouri’s public water supply systems and set by state law. The department uses the primacy fee to fund testing for drinking water contaminants, inspections, compliance activities, complaint investigations and technical assistance.
Purchase order 23000469 was issued to the DNR on October 6, 2022. The urgency behind issuance of the purchase order is because if the City does not pay its fee before the end of October a fine will be assessed against the City.