Water Supply

Water is essential to life, and in that sense the Missouri River is a river of life.

Past

The Missouri River has long been a source of drinking water and water for industrial, domestic, and farm uses for the people living along its banks. The drought of the 1930s was a wake up call to the importance–and potential scarcity–of water resources.

Present

Today, the Missouri River continues to be a major source of water for cities, towns, rural water systems, industry, agriculture and domestic use. Missouri River water is withdrawn through intakes at about 25 power plant facilities and nearly 60 municipal water supply facilities. Millions of people rely on the municipal facilities along the Missouri River for their drinking water.

Water level is a critical factor for these intakes. In the past decade, multi-year droughts in the Missouri River Basin have reduced water levels to the point that some intakes have had to be lowered. At times, water suppliers on the Missouri River have had difficulty accessing water and some have modified their intakes, installed emergency pumps, or have taken other emergency measures to meet their needs.