The design stage for a project aiming replace old water lines and mains is underway, according to a Branson government press release.

The full press release is below:

BRANSON, Mo., 2/8/2024 – A project that will systematically replace old, aging water mains and service lines throughout the City is currently in the design phase with construction expected to begin around August of 2024 for the Hiawatha Heights subdivision. This project will drastically reduce the number of water main breaks within the City.

The existing water system has passed its life expectancy. Due to construction practices at the time of installation, there is inadequate bedding material around the piping which is the main cause of the numerous water main breaks in the Hiawatha Heights Subdivision. 

Not only will this project reduce the number of water main breaks but it will also provide better fire protection. The existing water mains will be replaced with a larger size which will supply more water volume for firefighters. It will also extend the longevity of the system.

“This isn’t a new challenge to communities across the country. It’s a massive undertaking and something we’ve been planning for and working on for some time now,” said Utilities Director, Kendall Powell. “I’m excited that we are at the stage where our residents will be able to start seeing some improvements. We will also coordinate with our Public Works team to reduce the disruption as much as possible from any road repairs or paving that will be needed as part of this project. We will do our best to limit the negative impacts but do ask for patience,” Powell said.

The City of Branson’s Utilities Department took the number of water main leaks and compared that to the total footage of the water main within each subdivision along with other variables to come up with high-priority areas. Besides Hiawatha Heights, the City has plans to do this work throughout the City, including the following areas:

• Lakeview Terrace/Eiserman and Parnell area (Design Work 2024) 
• Lucia Ridge
• Murphy Addition
• Gateway
• Downtown
• W. Branson Heights
• Branson North
• Cantwell

The first phase of the project at Hiawatha Heights is expected to cost $6.6 million for construction of the improvements and will be paid for with the Tourism Tax revenue, a tax residents passed in 1997 to improve and maintain infrastructure and to market Branson’s tourism economy. The City will also use federal grant funding when available.

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The above press release is from the Branson government.