During a recent government meeting, representatives from Cochrane Engineering presented a comprehensive Water Master Plan for Osage Beach, outlining the current state and future needs of the city's water system. David Van Lare, a key figure in the presentation, emphasized the importance of evaluating the water infrastructure to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

The evaluation included an analysis of water usage trends, storage capacities, and distribution efficiency. Van Lare noted that the city experiences significant seasonal fluctuations in water consumption, particularly during the summer months when daily usage can exceed 1.1 million gallons due to an influx of visitors. The current system has 1,374 connections, serving approximately 22,832 units, which highlights the need for careful growth projections.

The presentation revealed a historical increase in water usage, with an average daily consumption rising by 100,000 gallons from 2009 to 2023. Looking ahead, Cochrane projected a 5% annual growth rate for the next five years, followed by a conservative estimate of 2% thereafter, anticipating that water usage could reach 1.5 million gallons per day by 2053.

Van Lare also discussed the city's water storage capabilities, noting that the existing Swiss Village tower, constructed in 2001, provides 1.5 million gallons of storage—adequate for current needs but requiring future investment to accommodate projected growth. The analysis aims to create a master plan that will serve as a roadmap for necessary improvements over the next 30 years, ensuring the water system remains robust and capable of meeting the demands of a growing population.