MSD

What MSD does

MSD (Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District) is a government municipal utility district organized under Article VI, Section 30 of the Missouri State Constitution, with exclusive authority to provide wastewater and stormwater services across the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Founded in 1956 and operating today under the "MSD Project Clear" brand with approximately 1,000 employees, MSD runs the regional wastewater collection system, treatment facilities, pump stations, stormwater infrastructure, and deep tunnel storage assets that serve residential and non-residential customers throughout the metropolitan area. The organization also performs development review, issues construction permits, operates a Municipal Stormwater Grant Program, and runs community rainscaping grant programs. It operates under a Consent Decree with regulatory authorities governing wastewater and stormwater compliance, and is currently pursuing both a Consent Decree Amendment and a Charter Amendment to support long-term program expansion.

MSD's underlying technology platform is built around physical sewer and stormwater infrastructure augmented by a portfolio of Best Management Practices (BMPs), including bioretention systems (rain gardens), permeable pavement, amended soils disconnection, and pre-fabricated proprietary stormwater treatment structures that combine settling, filtration, vortex separation, and vegetative components. MSD operates within a regulatory and capital framework branded as Project Clear, a multi-decade initiative investing billions of dollars over a generation in planning, designing, and building community rainscaping, system improvements, and maintenance and repair programs, with hundreds of projects planned through 2040.

MSD generates revenue primarily through recurring wastewater and stormwater service charges billed to residential and non-residential customers in its service territory, with non-residential stormwater billed at $1.05 per month per 1,000 square feet of impervious surface, supplemented by transaction-based fees from development review and construction permits. Capital funding is supported by voter-approved propositions (most recently Propositions W and S in April 2024), debt issuance disclosed via its Fiscal Reports and Debt Management functions, and stormwater property taxes. The go-to-market motion is that of a regulated monopoly utility — MSD is the sole provider in its service area, with customer acquisition effectively occurring at property connection, and engagement driven through direct billing, the msdprojectclear.org portal, community education programs, social media, and live-streamed Board of Trustees meetings.

Name

MSD

Legal name

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District

Website

https://msdprojectclear.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

MSD is the government municipal utility district that provides exclusive wastewater and stormwater services to St. Louis City and St. Louis County under the Missouri Constitution, operating sewer, treatment, and stormwater infrastructure plus community rainscaping and grant programs under its multi-decade Project Clear capital initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL)

Keywords

• Wastewater collection services
• Stormwater management
• Municipal sewer utility
• Wastewater treatment
• Stormwater infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Wastewater Service Charges: Billing for wastewater collection and treatment services provided to residential and non-residential customers in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
2. Stormwater Service Charges: Monthly stormwater service charges, with non-residential customers billed $1.05 per month per 1,000 square feet of impervious surface. Includes stormwater property taxes.
3. Development Review and Permits: Fees collected for construction permits, development review services, and connection fees for new development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MSD provides wastewater collection and treatment along with stormwater management services to residential and non-residential properties throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County. The district operates both services as two utilities in one, funds the multi-billion-dollar Project Clear capital program through 2040, and additionally issues construction/development permits and runs community rainscaping grant programs.

Product overview

MSD (Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District) is a municipal government utility, not a technology product company. It provides public wastewater and stormwater management services to the St. Louis region. Its services include wastewater treatment, stormwater management, sewer system maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and public education programs. The organization does not offer commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Collection and Treatment Core municipal service providing sewer collection and treatment of wastewater from residential and non-residential properties throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County, delivered as a regulated monthly utility service.
• Stormwater Management Service Monthly stormwater service for residential and non-residential customers, with non-residential customers billed $1.05 per month per 1,000 square feet of impervious surface, complemented by Best Management Practices, detention basins, and Phase II Stormwater Management planning.
• Development Review and Construction Permits Fee-based service for builders, developers, and property owners covering construction permits, development plan review, and connection fees for new development projects within the MSD service area.
• Rainscaping Grants Program Community grants program offering small grants, large-scale grants, and Cityshed mitigation grants to support green infrastructure and stormwater management projects in the MSD service area.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MNDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDC and MNDR sponsor the Missouri Stream Team program, a network of citizens involved in education, stewardship, and advocacy for Missouri streams. MDC provides free trash bags and work gloves for clean-up events. MSD partners with community groups by providing supplies and trash dumpsters for disposal of trash removed from streams.
• Open Space CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizes major river clean-up events including Confluence Trash Bash (with over 500 volunteers hauling 70 tons of trash), Operation Clean Stream, and River des Peres Trash Bash. MSD supports these events with supplies and disposal resources.
• River des Peres Watershed CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization focused on keeping the River des Peres Watershed healthy. MSD collaborates on watershed protection and education initiatives.
• Missouri Botanical GardenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner[email protected] email contact for Storm Drain Marking Project inquiries. The Missouri Botanical Garden supports public education about water quality and environmental stewardship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MSDProjectClear
• YouTubeyoutube.com/MSDProjectClear
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSDProjectClear
• Instagraminstagram.com/MSDProjectClear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MSD