Arkansas makes $204 million available for water system improvements statewide

Arkansas is distributing $204 million in additional funds for 45 water and wastewater improvements, benefiting nearly 200,000 residents in 28 counties. From the new funding, $145 million will be issued as loans, while $59.2 million will be allocated through a combination of grants and loans with principal forgiveness.

Since early 2023, Arkansas has distributed more than $2.5 billion in state and federal funds for water development projects across all 75 counties.

Major projects for this round of funding include:

Ash Flat, Sharp County, 1,137 customers: A $4.5 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) to improve its wastewater treatment facility.

Blytheville, Mississippi County, 13,406 customers: A $13.8 million loan with partial principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Emerging Contaminant Fund to test for and address emerging contaminants in the drinking water system.

Clarendon, Monroe County, 1,526 customers: A $500,000 loan and a $1.6 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to rehabilitate its water treatment plant.

Conway Corp., Faulkner County, 67,509 customers: A $32.5 million loan from the Drinking Water SRF to build a water supply line connecting Brewer Lake to the Roger Q. Mills water treatment plant.

Coy, Lonoke County, 87 customers: A $500,000 loan and a $1.6 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to support regionalization efforts with the Grand Prairie Regional Water Distribution District.

Dyess, Mississippi County, 339 customers: A $3.4 million loan from the Clean Water SRF to clean and inspect its wastewater collection system.

Elkins, Washington County, 3,864 customers: A $32.7 million loan and a $2.3 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Clean Water SRF to replace sewer lines and truss pipes.

Gurdon, Clark County, 1,840 customers: A $4.4 million loan from the Clean Water SRF to inspect its wastewater collection system, replace pumps and upgrade a lift station.

Hampton, Calhoun County, 1,181 customers: A $2.3 million loan from the Clean Water SRF to clean and repair its wastewater system, fix infiltration and inflow issues, and replace worn pumps.

Hardy, Sharp County, 743 customers: A $1 million loan and a $300,000 loan with principal forgiveness from the Clean Water SRF to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility.

Helena-West Helena, Phillips County, 9,519 customers: A $3.3 million loan and a $9.8 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to make systemwide improvements.

Holly Grove, Monroe County, 1,010 customers: A $2.5 million loan and a $1.6 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to replace water mains and install automatic-read meters.

Hope, Hempstead County, 8,952 customers: A $3.7 million loan from the Clean Water SRF to repair or replace wastewater collection lines to reduce infiltration and inflow.

Junction City, Union County, 503 customers: A $300,000 loan and a $1.2 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Clean Water SRF to clean and inspect its wastewater collection system.

Keiser, Mississippi County, 751 customers: A $1.1 million loan and a $3.3 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Clean Water SRF to replace sewer mains, rehabilitate sewer manholes and improve lift stations.

Lafe Rural Water District, Greene County, 1,069 customers: A $1.3 million loan from the Drinking Water SRF to rehabilitate its Highway 135 water storage tank and upgrade meters.

Little River County, 7,347 customers: A $4.8 million loan from the Drinking Water SRF to regionalize with Winthrop, replace mains and improve water storage tanks.

Magazine, Logan County, 340 customers: A $1.3 million loan from the Clean Water SRF for wastewater system rehabilitation.

Marshall, Searcy County, 1,329 customers: A $600,000 loan and a $1.9 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to replace asbestos cement water lines.

McGehee, Desha County, 3,849 customers: McGehee will receive $3.2 million in loans from the Drinking Water SRF for water system improvements and meter upgrades.

Oak Hills, Benton County, 138 customers: A $1.4 million loan and a $4.1 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to support regionalization with Bentonville.

Old Bella Vista, Benton County, 23 customers: An $800,000 loan and a $3.2 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to assist with regionalization with Bentonville.

Oxford, Izard County, 573 customers: A $500,000 loan and a $1.4 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Clean Water SRF for wastewater treatment upgrades.

Poyen, Grant County, 336 customers: An $800,000 loan for wastewater improvements, a $1.8 million loan and an additional $1.8 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Clean Water SRF for regionalization with Malvern.

Rondo, Lee County, 166 customers: Rondo will receive a $1.5 million loan from the Clean Water SRF to improve its wastewater treatment facility.

Southeast Bradley County Water Association, 1,563 customers: A $400,000 loan and a $1.3 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF for water plant upgrades and tank rehabilitation.

Tontitown, Washington County, 7,301 customers: A $6 million loan from the Drinking Water SRF to construct a new water tank south of U.S. 412.

Van Buren, Crawford County, 23,218 customers: Van Buren will receive four loans totaling $13.9 million from both SRF programs for wastewater and drinking water improvements.

Wabbaseka, Jefferson County, 180 customers: A $2 million loan and a $7.9 million loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water SRF to support regionalization with Grand Prairie.

Warren, Bradley County, 5,211 customers: $2.8 million in loans from both SRF programs, as well as the Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Fund, for various water and sewer projects.

Yorktown Water Association, Lincoln County, 7,364 customers: A $4 million loan from the Drinking Water SRF to assist with regionalization with Garrett Bridge Water Association.

Photo by Amine KM