Moscow Mills Issues City-Wide Boil Water Order

Residents and businesses required to boil water for consumption due to unspecified water supply issue

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Authorities in Moscow Mills, Missouri, have issued a precautionary boil water order for the entire city. The order requires residents and businesses to boil water for at least 3 minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, or other consumption purposes. The cause of the water supply issue has not been specified, and officials have not provided a timeline for when the order will be lifted.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the vulnerability of municipal water infrastructure, especially in the face of extreme weather events and growing demands on power grids. It also raises concerns about the resilience of essential services in the broader St. Louis region, where planned data centers could further strain the power supply.

The details

The boil water order was issued on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 by city officials in Moscow Mills. It requires all water intended for consumption, including cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, and washing dishes, to be brought to a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes before use. The city has not yet provided a definitive timeline for when the order will be lifted, stating it will remain in effect until testing confirms the water is safe.

  • The boil water order was issued on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Moscow Mills

A city in Missouri where a precautionary boil water order has been issued for all residents and businesses.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that maintains a public list of current boil water orders and urges residents to follow instructions from their local water systems.

Lori Merriman

A resident opposing a data center project in Festus, Missouri, who has raised concerns about the region's ability to accommodate increased energy consumption from such facilities.

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What they’re saying

“If we can't handle the cold and Ameren's asking us to reduce energy, how is it going to happen with the data centers using more than a city?”

— Lori Merriman, Resident (Instagram)

What’s next

The city of Moscow Mills has not provided a definitive timeline for when the boil water order will be lifted, stating it will remain in effect until testing confirms the water is safe.

The takeaway

This incident in Moscow Mills underscores the vulnerability of municipal water infrastructure and the need for comprehensive planning to address the potential impact of extreme weather, power grid issues, and growing demands from new developments like data centers. It serves as a reminder of the critical importance of reliable and safe water supplies for communities.