CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. -- The Mississippi River is a big part of the identity of Cape Girardeau. But soon, the Mighty Mississippi will no longer provide drinking water to the southeast Missouri community that sits along its banks.

For years, some of the water for Cape Girardeau's 18,000 water customer originated from the river. The Southeast Missourian reports that over the next three months, the city will complete a roughly $5 million project to switch to almost exclusively well water.

Officials say that will result in better-tasting, softer water for residents and fewer costs and less maintenance for the city.