More than $2.4 million has been approved for water and wastewater projects in Arkansas.
On Nov. 18, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission authorized $2,422,683.37for water/wastewater projects in seven Arkansas communities. These projects are expected to impact approximately 2,786 people.
Two of the projects were funded through the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund, while the remaining projects received funding from the Water Development Fund, Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund.
The largest funding amount went to the Beaver Dam Drainage District in Greene and Randolph Counties for the restoration of an existing drainage system. This project received a $1,030,000 loan from the Water Development Fund, and the project is expected to impact 15,120 acres of agricultural land.
The second largest funding amount of $403,532.37went to the Wilburn Water Association in Cleburne County. This funding, sourced from the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund, will be used to connect the association’s water system to the Heber Springs Water System and decommission its existing water treatment plant, benefiting 326 association members.
The City of Turrell also received a loan from the Water Sewer & Solid Waste Fund, amounting to $114,040 to replace outdated water meters, a master meter and an ultrasonic meter on the force main for the City for Jericho.
Both the City of Dover and the Wright-Pastoria Water Association received more than $300,000 for water projects. The City of Dover received $375,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund for a sanitary sewer evaluation survey of the existing collection system and to develop a prioritized plan for rehabilitation, repairs, and replacement of the system. The Wright-Pastoria Water Association was granted a $356,460 loan from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, which will be used to replace its water meters with an upgraded drive-by meter system. The association also received $64,650 added to an existing loan.
The remaining two communities received less than $60,000 each for their projects. The City of Hampton received $56,650 that is added to an existing loan, while the City of Fifty-Six received $22,351 in additional emergency funding.
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