Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced an additional $153,974,230 in financial assistance for water and wastewater projects benefiting 52 entities across Arkansas.
The announcement comes as part of the ongoing update to the Arkansas Water Plan. In 2023, Governor Sanders issued Executive Order 23-27, launching a comprehensive review of the plan, which guides the state’s management of water resources, supply, demand, and water quality. The first phase of the update was completed in August 2024 by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with the second phase expected to be finished by summer 2026.
“Everywhere you look, Arkansas’ communities are expanding and demanding more from our infrastructure,” Governor Sanders said. “That’s why my administration is committed to providing funding for these latest projects, ensuring Arkansas’ water systems can keep up with demand so every Arkansan has clean water to drink and wastewater systems that work.”
State officials noted that Governor Sanders has made water infrastructure a major priority, with more than $2.7 billion in state and federal funds invested in water projects across all 75 counties.
“These projects represent a continued, coordinated effort to strengthen the foundation of Arkansas’s water infrastructure,” said Chris Colclasure, Director of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division. “We appreciate Governor Sanders’ ongoing leadership and support to ensure Arkansans have access to safe and dependable water and wastewater systems.”
Local Funding in the Deltaplex
Four Deltaplex communities will benefit from the newly announced funding:
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Gould (Lincoln County): Awarded a $1,417,312.50 loan with principal forgiveness and an additional $472,437.50 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Serving a customer base of 300, the funds will support wastewater treatment plant improvements.
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Leola (Grant County): Received a $370,395 loan with principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Serving 460 customers, the funds will be used for water meter replacements.
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Sparkman (Dallas County): Awarded a $454,341 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Serving 1,325 customers, the project includes meter replacements and installation of a backup generator.
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Star City (Lincoln County): Received a $932,340 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Serving 2,173 customers, the funding will support water system improvements.
The projects are part of the state’s ongoing efforts to upgrade critical infrastructure and ensure reliable water access for Arkansas communities.
