SILEX – In this instance, Lynne Luckett’s mom would probably cut her some slack.

“My mother would turn over in the grave because I’m serving you tap water,” Silex’s mayor said during a dedication ceremony Friday. “But we’re really proud of it.”

That tap water served as the star of a waterline dedication attended by city officials, residents, Rep. Chad Perkins and representatives from the Pike County water district, Environmental Protection Agency, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s office.

Starting in late June, Silex’s water traveled south from Eolia in 13 miles of newly installed pipe, owned and operated by the Pike County Water District.

During the dedication, Luckett recounted the town’s history starting with flooding caused by Hurricane Ike in 2011 and the subsequent dividing of town.

“What happened, subsequently, was downtown became old town, and the new complex became new town,” Luckett said. “And for 14 years, we had dealt with two separate water systems.”

In 2022, the city began working towards development of one water system, but those plans dried up a year later when the EPA determined due to a high number of radionuclides, the water wasn’t safe to drink.

As part of an agreement with the EPA, the city promised to provide one gallon of bottled water daily, per resident.

“We had no idea what we were going to do,” Luckett said about the immediate aftermath of the EPA water order. “Trust me when I say there was a lot of hand-wringing and gnashing teeth wondering how this would be accomplished, as well as many upset citizens and parents regarding the effects of radium on their health and health of their children.”

One year and eight months later, Silex stopped buying bottled water.

“As we neared completion, once we realize that the light at the end of the tunnel was indeed not a train, thoughts turned to celebration of this very momentous occasion,” Luckett said.

The mayor added the event served as more than a dedication of a water line.

“This is a dedication of a new community, a new old community,” she said. “I am here to declare that there is no more old town and new town. Rather, as of today, there is just Silex: A community of people living together with a common goal of making Silex a shining example of people working together toward the common goal.”

She hopes the water line will help unify the community further.

“In this time of trial and uncertainty in our country, perhaps we could bring back what it used to be, a good community working together,” she said. “Hurricane Ike separated us in September of 2008, but I am here today to declare that we are going to be united now. We are a community now, joined together simply by a water pipeline and soon one town. One connection, one community.”

Luckett also took the opportunity to thank city staff for unloading and delivering water and for the support of several in the community, including Mo. Representative Chad Perkins.

“So, it’s been a lot of work from a lot of people and it was a nightmare for a while,” Perkins said. “It was absolutely a nightmare for a while, but as you said, a lot of people have kicked in and been a part of this …and Silex has turned that corner and is going in a much better direction. If you can’t have water, you’re not going to have much community. I think it’s just a good day to be in Silex.”

The 13-mile water line connects to Eolia, which also receives its water from the Pike County Water District. District officials said at the dedication Mark Twain Lake is the water’s source.

While this is Phase One of the water project, the second phase will involve construction of a new water tower.

Funds for both the water project came from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.