In 2013, Columbia voters overwhelmingly approved a sewer bond issue of over $32 million. When the bond issue was first proposed, the list of projects did not include new sewer expansion. 

Sewer expansion can help improve economic growth, provide environmental benefits, and improve quality of life. The list of projects was updated to grow support for the bond issue by adding two sewer trunk line expansion projects. One known as the Henderson Branch would’ve expanded sewer from the west of Columbia to Midway. The Columbia City Council never approved the funds to be used for the Henderson Branch trunk line at the time, so that trunk line was never installed.  Now that Columbia is amid a housing inventory and affordability crisis, Columbia and the Boone County Sewer District need to work together to find ways to meet the needs of a growing community.  

Sewer expansion offers numerous economic benefits, such as increasing property values and spurring economic growth. It also adds to the customer base, making a centralized system cheaper over time than individual on-site systems. 

New development tends to occur in areas with enough infrastructure to support capacity. Sewer access can be the most significant infrastructure hurdle for residential and commercial development. Having adequate sewer capacity allows development to occur at a faster pace to meet demand. According to data in Boone County’s Master Plan Update, population growth in Boone County is expected to continue at its current pace until 2025, if not longer. Sufficient infrastructure will be key to accommodating population growth.  

Sewer expansion also allows residents in these areas to connect to more reliable sewer systems. This can reduce the number of lagoons or other on-site sewer systems that are plagued by environmental issues, such as seepage into the soil. Sewage leaking into the ground can negatively impact the water quality of streams and watersheds, damaging ecosystems. Environmental issues were among the key benefits of extending a sewer line to Midway in 2014. 

If the sewer trunkline to Midway had not been delayed, it could have significantly alleviated the housing inventory challenges facing Mid-Missouri. Over the past decade, home inventories that increased during the Great Recession consistently declined, while new developments have been slow to restart. Expanding developable land on the west side of Columbia could have supplied the inventory necessary to support growth. An increase in home inventory could also have prevented home prices from rising so quickly over the past five years and potentially led to more affordable housing options.  

Future sewer expansion in Boone County and Columbia needs to be a priority for everyone. The populations of the city and county will continue to grow for years to come. The Boone County Sewer District, the city of Columbia, developers, and property owners need to work together to find solutions to allow for more sewer expansion. Sewer expansion is a long-term investment that leads to a healthier, cleaner, and more prosperous community. 

Brian Toohey is the chief executive officer for the Columbia Board of REALTORS.