Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced earlier this week that 12 water and wastewater projects across Arkansas will receive a combined $13,680,374 in financial assistance. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission approved the funding to support efforts that will impact over 42,000 residents in various parts of the state.
“My administration is working hard to improve Arkansas’ water systems, and this additional $13 million in funding will help communities around the state have access to safe drinking water,” said Governor Sanders. “Arkansans are counting on their local water utilities to deliver consistent and safe water, which is why we have gone above and beyond to overhaul and improve Arkansas’ water resources.”
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward emphasized the importance of the infrastructure work, calling it “critical” to the state’s economy and residents’ well-being. Chris Colclasure, Director of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division, added, “The projects approved today will provide substantial benefit to the citizens served.”
Supporting Communities Across the State
The new funding round supports a range of needs, from infrastructure maintenance and equipment upgrades to full-scale water system improvements. Below are highlights of the funded projects:
-
Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment: Received $1,805,421 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for a statewide PFAS detection program bank.
-
Arkansas Rural Water Association: Received two grants totaling $190,000 to support a circuit rider agreement and provide technical assistance.
-
Banks (Bradley County): Awarded $95,384 to support a regionalization project with Southeast Bradley County Water Authority, serving 1,048 people.
-
Cushman (Independence County): Approved for a $140,000 loan to renovate booster stations, impacting 433 residents.
-
Flippin (Marion County): Secured a $2.5 million loan for water main and meter replacements, benefiting 1,836 customers.
-
Gillett (Arkansas County): Granted $448,000 to build an elevated water storage tank for its 333 residents.
-
Hampton (Calhoun County): Received a $221,700 grant for wastewater collection system rehabilitation, impacting 1,181 people.
-
Haskell (Saline County): Awarded $562,638 for a sanitary sewer evaluation survey to support 3,956 residents.
-
Nail Swain Water Association (Newton County): Granted a $41,037 loan for a maintenance truck serving 357 customers.
-
Sherwood (Pulaski County): Received the largest allocation, a $7,059,046 loan to fund the Five Mile Creek interceptor rehabilitation, which will impact 32,731 people.
-
Watershed Conservation Resource Center (Washington County): Received a $299,092 grant to implement a project through the Sewer Overflow and Storm Water Reuse Municipal Grant Program.
-
Weiner (Poinsett County): Awarded a $318,057 loan for wastewater sludge holding pond renovations for its 413 residents.
Building a Resilient Water Infrastructure
This announcement follows the completion of the first phase of the Arkansas Water Plan, a collaboration between the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since taking office, Governor Sanders has overseen more than $2.5 billion in investments toward water infrastructure improvements in all 75 counties using state and federal resources.
“These investments are about more than pipes and pumps—they’re about making sure Arkansans have clean water at home, in schools, and in hospitals,” said Governor Sanders.
The funding represents Arkansas’s commitment to modernizing critical infrastructure, safeguarding public health, and promoting sustainable development. The approved projects are expected to begin implementation in the coming months.
