The Missouri attorney general's office is investigating reports water well drillers may have been taking advantage of landowners hit hard by drought.
Attorney General Koster said in a release Friday he's looking into reports water well drillers may have been spiking prices for their services in northwest Missouri. Koster says Missouri is under a state of emergency because of the prolonged drought and price-gouging in a declared disaster is illegal under state law.
Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency on July 23 and also made $7 million in state funds available to help farmers with drilling, deepening water wells or expanding their irrigation systems.
Koster says he urges anyone who suspects price gouging related to the drought to contact his office.