Ten Arkansas Communities Receive Water and Wastewater Project Funding

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission approved $14,129,957.25 for water and wastewater projects serving more than 8,256 people in ten Arkansas communities on September 16, 2020. The projects are as follows:

The Town of Aubrey in Lee County received a $103,000 loan and a $103,000 grant from the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund to replace two sewer substations. The number of customers served by this project will be 74.

The City of Fifty-Six in Stone County received a $396,552 loan from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund and a $2,247,127 loan with principal forgiveness from the same fund. This project will fund the permanent installation of 4.5 miles of water main and serve 230 customers.

The City of Louann in Ouachita County received a $87,669 loan from the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund to replace an existing water well. This project will serve 82 customers.

The Village Water Association in Columbia County received a $281,528 loan and a $120,655 loan with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to make improvements to their existing water tank. The customer base for this project is 161.

The City of Dumas in Desha County received funds for two separate projects in the communities of Mitchellville and Winchester that will serve a total of 2,557 customers.

The Commission approved a $172,525 loan from the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund for the project in Winchester. This loan will fund the planning and design for installation of a new sanitary sewer linework connecting the community of Winchester to Dumas.

The Mitchellville project received a $2,440,172 loan and a $1,626,781 loan with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. These loans will fund the new sanitary sewer connection of Mitchellville to Dumas.

The Lawson-Urbana Public Water Authority in Union County received a $1,144,551 loan from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to construct a new water well. The project will serve 441 customers.

The Lost Bridge Village Water & Sewer Improvements District No. 1 & 2 in Benton County received a $1,392,821 loan from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and a $1,392,821 loan with principal forgiveness from the same fund. These loans will fund the installation of a new wastewater treatment plant. The project will serve 406 customers.

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership in Benton, Crawford, and Washington Counties received a $281,885.25 grant from the Water Development Fund and a $1,000,000 loan with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. These funds will be used for the Commission’s Septic Tank Remediation Program.

The Ozark Water Watch in Benton, Washington, Madison, Carroll, Boone, Newton and Franklin Counties received a $1,000,000 loan with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and a loan for $261,620 from the Water Development Fund. These funds will be used for the Commission’s Septic Tank Remediation Program.

The City of Helena West-Helena in Philips County received a $77,250 loan from the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund to repair the failing exterior levee walls of the pond at the sewage treatment facility. The number of customers served by this project will be 4,305.

More information about the Natural Resource Division’s water and wastewater programs can be found at https://www.anrc.arkansas.gov/divisions/water-resources-development/ or by contacting Debby Dickson at debra.dickson@arkansas.gov or 501-682-0548.

Learn more about the Arkansas Department of Agriculture at https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/