Arkansas allocates over $153 million for water and wastewater projects

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced more than $153 million in water and wastewater funding to support improvements to waterlines, sewer systems and septic programs. The funding will assist 52 entities statewide and serve more than 814,000 residents, according to a news release. In the KNWA/FOX24 viewing area, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission approved allocations across Benton, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Sebastian and Washington counties.

In Benton County, through the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, Dawn Hill Country Club & Cynthiana Townhouses POA received a $2,440,386 loan with principal forgiveness plus an $813,462 loan for sanitary sewer upgrades serving 225 customers; H2Ozarks received a $250,000 loan with principal forgiveness for a septic tank remediation program serving 94,400 customers; and the Illinois River Watershed Partnership received an $83,000 loan with principal forgiveness for a septic tank remediation program serving 94,400 customers. Through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Bentonville received an $887,911 loan with principal forgiveness plus an $8,733,449 loan for a supply water transmission central loop serving 94,400 customers, and Garfield received a $7,500,000 loan with principal forgiveness for water main improvements serving 618 customers. Under State Programs, Gravette received a $309,000 loan from the Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Fund for water meter upgrades serving 1,930 customers.

In Crawford County, through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Mulberry received a $165,594 loan with principal forgiveness for Smart Water Meter Modernization serving 845 customers.

In Franklin County, through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Branch received a $192,225 loan with principal forgiveness for water meters serving 500 customers. Through the Small, Underserved and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program, Warren received a $150,000 grant for a regionalization project with Corinth Valley serving 500 customers.

In Johnson County, through the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, Clarksville received a $5,451,664.35 loan with principal forgiveness plus a $30,892,764.65 loan for pollution control facility improvements serving 7,663 customers.

In Sebastian County, through the Small, Underserved and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program, the Ozan Creek Rural Water Authority received a $97,711 grant for a creek crossing line repair serving 234 customers. Under State Programs, Mansfield received a $100,000 Emergency – Water Development Fund loan for emergency repairs at a wastewater treatment plant serving 1,139 customers, and Norman received a $12,360 Water Development Fund loan for repairs at Huddleston Creek serving 300 customers.

In Washington County, through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Lincoln received a $2,050,000 loan with principal forgiveness for water meter replacements serving 2,675 customers, and the Washington Water Authority received a $1,222,754 loan for the Goose Creek project serving 8,285 customers. Under State Programs, H2Ozarks received a $64,700 Water Development Fund grant for administrative costs for the Septic Tank Remediation Program serving 94,400 customers, and the Washington Water Authority received a $1,554,270 General Obligation Bond Fund loan for the Cove Creek waterline project serving 8,285 customers.