MSD Project Clear (MSDPC) is making a significant investment to improve air quality in the St. Louis region by updating the biosolids facilities at the Bissell Point and Lemay Wastewater Treatment Plants.
Biosolids management systems are used to treat and reduce the volume of biosolids that have been removed during the wastewater treatment process. Although the existing facilities continue to meet or exceed all air quality standards, the new systems will significantly improve air quality, reducing emissions by more than 70 percent.
Construction of the new facilities is ongoing. Completion is anticipated in Spring 2029.
Lemay Wastewater Treatment Plant: Rendering of completed Solids Processing Building. No smoke stacks!
Rendering of the new solids treatment facility changing the landscape at the Bissell Treatment Plant.
About the Project
What is the goal of this project?
MSDPC is investing $900 million to improve air quality in the St. Louis region by replacing century-old technology with innovative, environmentally friendly systems. Our existing facilities have served the region well but they use century-old technology.
MSDPC’s new facilities will use modern, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly processes, resulting in significantly cleaner air.
Project Maps & Work Involved
Bissell Wastewater Treatment Plant
1. Demolition of existing storage tanks
2. Building of a new Solids Processing Building
3. Demolish existing Solids Processing Building
Lemay Wastewater Treatment Plant
1. Replacement of the guardhouse and fencing at the Broadway entrance.
2. Demolition of existing structures and construction.
Winter 2024-25 Update
With the design-build approach, construction work is underway even as design work is being finalized.
The design team, led by Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly (CMT), is on track to deliver final design documents in early 2025. The construction team, led by Kokosing/Plocher, continues to make progress on both sites.
Read more about the current activity here.
Bissell – Basement concrete construction in progress
Lemay – Drilled Shaft construction in progress, and below slab drain piping installation
Community Engagement
MSDPC is committed to keeping stakeholders in the area informed.
- Prior to the start of construction in 2024, a series of stakeholder meetings were held with businesses and institutions closest to plants.
- In early summer 2024, MSDPC hosted virtual public meetings for each location to update the community near each plant.
Public meeting recordings are available for review below. We encourage you to watch these sessions to stay informed about the project and discussions that took place.
Public Meetings
Project Schedule
Understanding the Importance of the Bissell and Lemay Wastewater Treatment Plants
The Bissell Point and Lemay wastewater treatment facilities are MSDPC’s two largest operations. These sites include the existing biosolid stabilization facilities, and their replacements will be in the same locations.
Bissell Point is located on the Mississippi River, in an industrial area of north St. Louis city. The site is the location of St. Louis’ first major water treatment facility, completed in 1869. Thomas Whitman, brother of poet Walt Whitman, was chief engineer for its construction. Since 1970, Bissell has been MSDPC’s largest wastewater treatment operation.
To understand the site, what it does and the people who work to keep our waterways clean, MSDPC produced a video celebrating Bissell Point’s 50th year of service to the St. Louis region:
The second facility, the Lemay Wastewater Treatment location, became operational in 1968 and is also along the Mississippi River, but downstream, in south St. Louis County. Lemay’s 50 years of service to St. Louis are also distinguished in a recently produced video by MSDPC:
Frequently Asked Questions
The SMU project is being completed to improve air quality in the St. Louis region. Although our existing facilities continue to meet or exceed all air quality standards, they use century-old technology, and the development of cleaner processes makes replacing them a priority.
The technology now available is more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and cost-effective. It significantly reduces air emissions, provides cleaner operations and is a critical component of the MSD Project Clear mission to protect public health and the environment.
The St. Louis region will benefit from improved air quality, improved biosolid stabilization, the creation of 200 new construction and ongoing, high-tech jobs and greater ability to qualify for federal transportation funding for the region.
MSD is investing approximately $900 million to advance the Project Clear mission to protect human health and the environment, and to continue to satisfy the requirements of the Clean Air Act.
Construction of the facilities will begin in 2024 and is expected to be complete by 2029.
New facilities will be constructed at Bissell Point and Lemay Wastewater Treatment Plants.