Arnold City Council Rejects Sewer Sale to Missouri American Water

On February 2, 2012, the Arnold City Council rejected a proposed scheme to sell the City’s sewer system to for-profit Missouri American Water during a closed session of the Council.

According to a press release issued by the City on February 3, the City Council and Mayor rejected the proposed sale “after thoroughly reviewing the offer and documentation and thoroughly vetting the operational and management history of American Water.”

Missouri American also confirmed in a memo to its employees the same day that the Arnold City Council had rejected the company’s proposal.

The Utility Workers Union of America, which represents workers of Missouri American in the greater St. Louis area, worked with local citizens in Arnold to oppose the proposed sale. The UWUA announced its opposition to the scheme after Missouri American made an unsolicited bid to buy Arnold’s sewer system in late 2011.

The UWUA’s analysis of the proposed deal – made available to Arnold citizens on this website – demonstrated major shortcomings for ratepayers, including a nearly 20% sewer rate hike and a proposed ban on any City opposition to future rate increases before the state Public Service Commission.

The UWUA represents employees of Missouri American’s parent corporation, American Water, in eleven states across the U.S. Many UWUA members who work for Missouri American also live in Arnold.

In a memo announcing Arnold’s rejection of the company’s expansion scheme, Missouri American President Frank Kartmann stated that the company remained “open to future discussions” to take over the City’s sewer system.  On February 9, 2012, however, the Arnold-Imperial Leader reported that "city officials will cease all negotiations to sell the system," citing City Administrator Matt Unrein.

The UWUA believes that any deal with American Water will be a bad deal for Arnold ratepayers. We urge Arnold citizens to remain vigilant against any proposal to sell this critical community asset to Missouri American Water.

Please contact us immediately at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   if you hear about any renewed attempt to sell Arnold’s sewer system to Missouri American Water.