Little Rock, AR – In a significant investment in the state’s water infrastructure, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission has announced the approval of over $265 million in financial assistance. This substantial funding, amounting to $265,466,658, is set to benefit 40 water and wastewater projects across the state, impacting more than 233,547 Arkansans.
A Deep Dive into the Funding Mechanics
This project announcement comes from four funding streams:
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF): This fund, contributing around $74.9 million, was established under the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act. It’s a testament to the strength of federal-state partnerships, providing low-interest loans for water quality improvement projects, including wastewater and stormwater management.
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): The lion’s share of the investment, about $183.3 million, comes from the DWSRF, created by the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. This program is a pivotal federal-state collaboration supporting projects that ensure compliance with the Act’s stringent standards.
Water Development Fund (WDF): The WDF contributes approximately $1.1 million.
Water Sewer Solid Waste Fund (WSSW): The WSSW contributes around $65,920.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, through its Natural Resources Commission, administers these funds. The sources include the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), both federal-state partnerships supporting water infrastructure projects.
For more detailed information on these projects and their impact on Arkansas communities, visit the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website.
Listing of Projects
A listing of projects can be found below. The list includes the source of the funds, as well as the population served and the % of the service area that impacts low to middle income residents. Including in these awards are significant principal forgiveness totaling approximately $27,891,191.90. This figure represents a significant portion of the overall funding dedicated to these projects, highlighting the commitment to reducing financial burdens and facilitating essential water infrastructure improvements.
- City of Bryant (Saline County): $1.87 million from CWSRF for a sewer main reroute, serving 20,399 people; median income: $76,965; LMI: 26.22%.
- City of Clarendon (Monroe County): $9.94 million from CWSRF for sewer system improvements, serving 666 people; median income: $25,685; LMI: 61.09%.
- City of Clinton (Van Buren County): $5.47 million from CWSRF for wastewater improvements, serving 2,509 people; median income: $38,977; LMI: 40.71%.
- City of England (Lonoke County): $4.27 million from CWSRF for sewer improvements, serving 2,477 people; median income: $39,853; LMI: 57.22%.
- City of Huntsville (Madison County): $32.6 million from CWSRF for wastewater treatment plant expansion, serving 3,300 people; median income: $47,202; LMI: 66.81%.
- City of Judsonia (White County): $2.73 million from CWSRF for wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation, serving 1,854 people; median income: $37,966; LMI: 54.65%.
- City of Lincoln (Washington County): $1.43 million from CWSRF for Phase I sewer rehabilitation, serving 2,306 people; median income: $33,618; LMI: 62.56%.
- City of Mayflower (Faulkner County): $12.44 million from CWSRF for sewer system regionalization with Conway Corporation, serving 8,197 people; median income: $64,375; LMI: 41.77%.
- City of Smackover (Union County): $1.7 million from CWSRF for lift station improvements and aerators, serving 1,155 people; median income: $41,756; LMI: 53.34%.
- City of Stephens (Ouachita County): $1.33 million from CWSRF for wastewater system improvements, serving 770 people; median income: $31,111; LMI: 51.98%.
- El Dorado Rural PWA (Union County): $694,723 from CWSRF for force main extension and improvements, serving 1,070 people; median income: $35,682; LMI: 49.02%.
- Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District No.1 (Carroll County): $838,704 from CWSRF for ultraviolet disinfection improvements, serving 2,533 people; median income: $53,366; LMI: 36.80%.
- Lost Bridge Village Sewer & Improvement District #1 & #2 (Benton County): $932,308 from CWSRF for pump station replacement, serving 576 people; median income: $63,025; LMI: 40.95%.
- Bald Knob North WPFB (White County): $1.2 million from DWSRF for water improvements, serving 1,728 people; median income: $41,023; LMI: 54.48%.
- Bee Branch Public Water Authority (Faulkner County): $3.5 million from DWSRF for system improvements, serving 2,137 people; median income: $54,856; LMI: 40.61%.
- Cedarville Waterworks PFB (Crawford County): $723,194 from DWSRF for Oakridge Extension, serving 8,795 people; median income: $46,491; LMI: 39.71%.
- City of Alma (Crawford County): $6.21 million from DWSRF for Water Treatment Plant Manganese Removal, serving 5,825 people; median income: $38,292; LMI: 40.22%.
- City of Altheimer (Jefferson County): $415,399 from DWSRF for Lead Service Line Replacement Project, serving 696 people; median income: $25,941; LMI: 39.79%.
- City of Gillett (Arkansas County): $1.26 million from DWSRF for a new 100,000 Gallon Elevated Water Storage Tank, serving 585 people; median income: $46,493; LMI: 35.29%.
- City of Holly Grove (Monroe County): $510,012 from DWSRF for Water Tank and Plant Buildings Modifications, serving 1,010 people; median income: $40,959; LMI: 58.52%.
- City of Humphrey (Jefferson County): $1,113,083 from DWSRF for Water System Rehabilitation, serving 479 people; median income: $43,928; LMI: 31.63%.
- City of Monette (Craighead County): $1,534,164 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 1,506 people; median income: $43,131; LMI: 33.11%.
- City of Prescott (Nevada County): $3,397,405 from DWSRF for Water Intake Improvements, serving 3,101 people; median income: $35,050; LMI: 69.59%.
- City of Ratcliff (Logan County): $1,595,689 from DWSRF for Asbestos Cement Main Replacement, serving 317 people; median income: $35,891; LMI: 32.43%.
- City of Clinton (Van Buren County): $6,416,494 from DWSRF for Water Improvements, serving 2,509 people; median income: $38,977; LMI: 40.71%.
- Conway County RWDD (Conway County): $8,450,045 from DWSRF for a 24” Raw Waterline & Water Filter #6, serving 21,260 people; median income: $42,818; LMI: 39.62%.
- Grand Prairie Regional Water Distribution District (Arkansas County): $2,832,868 from DWSRF for Water System Consolidation – Humnoke, serving 181 people; median income: $33,500; LMI: 62.22%.
- North Garland County RWD (Garland County): $17,945,215 from DWSRF for Water Treatment Plant Storage Tank and Transmission Line, serving 3,219 people; median income: $49,985; LMI: 40.11%.
- Saline Regional Public Water Authority (Saline County): $125 million from DWSRF for Ouachita River Water System Regionalization, serving 99,918 people; median income: $68,605.
- Grange Calamine Water Association (Sharp County): $1,144,334.12 from WDF for Water Solar Array Project, serving 1,218 people; median income: $34,651; LMI: 48.46%.
- Parthenon Water Association (Newton County): $65,920 from WSSW for Water Tank Rehabilitation, serving 759 people; median income: $42,817; LMI: 45.90%.
- City of Cave City (Sharp County): $1,975,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 1,904 people; median income: $37,344; LMI: 58.28%.
- City of Charleston (Franklin County): $2,675,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 2,494 people; median income: $40,192; LMI: 52.16%.
- City of Cotter (Baxter County): $2,100,000 from DWSRF for Wastewater System Improvements, serving 970 people; median income: $30,625; LMI: 56.91%.
- City of Elkins (Washington County): $4,300,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 3,014 people; median income: $52,993; LMI: 43.31%.
- City of Eureka Springs (Carroll County): $2,800,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 2,073 people; median income: $38,719; LMI: 51.33%.
- City of Gassville (Baxter County): $1,225,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 2,158 people; median income: $36,731; LMI: 53.24%.
- City of Gentry (Benton County): $3,600,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 3,158 people; median income: $52,148; LMI: 41.94%.
- City of Gurdon (Clark County): $1,075,000 from DWSRF for Water System Improvements, serving 2,212 people; median income: $31,597; LMI: 58.95%.
- City of Hazen (Prairie County): $1,500,000 from DWSRF for Wastewater System Improvements, serving 1,468 people; median income: $37,344; LMI: 58.28%.
