The money comes from the state’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

The Program offers money to small Missouri towns of less than 50,000 people to improve local facilities and develop further economically.

In Clark's grant application, the town cited numerous water main breaks and leaks at many water main repairs and patches that caused water loss.

"I think the system's just old, it's outdated, it needs to be replaced," said Clark resident Brad Dean.

Clark's water system has been around for more than 45 years. In 2006, The Missouri Department of Economic Development said that Clark lost more than 25 percent of its water because of unaccounted leaks. In March of that year, a line break caused the town's 50,000-gallon water tower to empty out over night.

"They say the new water system is supposed to be coming in and will help improve the water pressure," said Clark resident Joshua Carrow.

Another concern residents have with the current water is its taste.

"The water does not taste good," Carrow said. "I don't like the city water quality that great, but I don't know if it actually has to do with the lines themselves or proper maintenance."

"It's got a taste....it's like a salty, liquid taste," Dean said. "It's not bad, you can drink it. I think it'd be good to get some water in here, some better water, not quite as hard as it is now." 

The mayor of Clark wasn't available to comment on when the improvements will begin.