LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the approval of more than $42 million in financial assistance for six water and wastewater projects across Arkansas.
“Every Arkansan deserves access to safe and consistent running water. My administration has prioritized improvements to Arkansas’ water infrastructure and today, I’m proud to announce $42 million in much-needed assistance for communities that face critical issues with their existing water facilities,” said Gov. Sanders.
Additionally, Gov. Sanders launched a comprehensive analysis and review of Arkansas’ State Water Plan and plans to improve ongoing water system issues in Helena West-Helena by approving loans, providing potable water, and offering Arkansas National Guard assistance.
“The Department of Agriculture continues to work with communities across the state to address deficiencies in water and wastewater systems. The action regarding Helena-West Helena continues to demonstrate the Governor’s ongoing effort to address a difficult situation and we are proud to partner with her,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.
As the editor of the Helena World, Andrew Bagley has reported on and lived through multiple water outages in Helena West Helena.
"Along with probably hundreds to 1000s of others, we're just simply just mad as hell. You know, we were ready to cue up twisted sisters, we're not going to take it anymore," Bagley said.
John Edwards works with Arkansas Rural Water and with Economic Development for the City of Helena-West Helena and he explained that the over $11 million and continued granted efforts could lead to solutions for their city.
"That means a new well, improvements to the water treatment plants, and very critically, just replacing very old leaky water lines," Edwards added.
While this will help solve some of the more pressing issues, Edwards said it only scratches the surface of what's needed to fix water systems across the state.
"I would say I have a fairly high level of concern. Because there are just so many old systems in the state." Edwards said, "I mean, you're talking hundreds of millions of billions of dollars that could be spent over a period of time."
Meanwhile, Helena West Helena hopes to at least be running on their own again with a new well this summer.
"We're disappointed it took taking us into a third world status, in order for it to for people to do something," Bagley said, "It looks like we're closer than ever to getting people on the same page on this finally, and starting to do some work."
The projects that are receiving funding are listed below:
- Helena West-Helena, Phillips County, will receive an emergency $100,000 loan from the Water Development Fund and an $11,000,000 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The current customer base for this project is 5,500.
- City of Mena, Polk County, will receive an $11,583,500 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The current customer base for this project is 5,558.
- City of Mountainburg, Crawford County, will receive a $7,037,300 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The current customer base for this project is 6,184.
- City of Mulberry, Crawford County, will receive a $7,549,317 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The current customer base for this project is 1,543.
- Tri-County Regional Water Distribution District, Pope County, will receive a $5,000,000 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The current customer base for this project is 3,500.