FCity to receive water and wastewater project funding
Forrest City is one of 12 Arkansas Entities to receive water and wastewater project funding according to a release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
According to the release, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission approved
$64,102,718.80 for water and wastewater projects serving more than 15,593 people in 12 Arkansas counties.
The City of Forrest City in St. Francis County received an interim loan totaling $324,800 from the Water Sewer and Solid Waste Fund, and a second loan for $1,803,530.80 from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
“These loans will be used as interim and permanent financing for wastewater system improvements,” said Shaylee Barber with the Arkansas Department of Agricultures.” The customer base for the project is 4,652.”
Other project funding approved are as follows:
• Central Arkansas Water (CAW) in Pulaski County received a $200,000 loan and a grant totaling $17,361 from the Water Development Fund to be used to purchase and assume the operation of the Frazier Pike Public Facilities Board. The Frazier Pike Public Facilities Board requested the purchase by CAW to ensure sustainability of the system and public health. This project will serve approximately 65 customers.
• Central Arkansas Water (CAW) in Pulaski County received a $16,300,000 loan and a $2,200,000 loan with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program. CAW will install approximately 50 miles of water mains to serve the Ferndale/West Pulaski area that is currently using individual water wells that provide a limited quantity of poor- quality water. This project is estimated to benefit 350 currently unserved customers.
• Central Arkansas Water (CAW) in Pulaski County received a loan with principal forgiveness totaling $1,200,000 from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The funds will be used to assist low to moderate income residents within the Ferndale/West Pulaski area with connecting to the expanded system.
• The City of Crossett in Ashley County received a $939,365 loan from the Water Sewer and Solid Waste Fund for planning, design, and acquisition of easements and rights-of-way for improvements to the sewer system. This project will benefit approximately 3,050 customers.
•The City of Eudora in Chicot County received a $543,404 loan and a loan of $1,630,221 with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. The funding will be used for water system improvements, including the replacement of water mains and fire hydrants. This project will benefit approximately 955 customers.
• The City of Mena in Polk County received a $7,000,000 loan from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program for water treatment plant improvements. The number of customers benefiting from this project will be approximately 3,761.
• The City of Paris in Logan County received a $690,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund program for wastewater collection system improvements. The project will benefit approximately 1,566 customers.
• The South Logan County Public Water Facilities Board received a $608,899 loan and a grant of $608,900 from the Water Sewer and Solid Waste Fund program to install water lines. This project is projected to benefit 762 customers.
• The City of Strong in Union County received a $146,327 loan and a loan of $62,712 with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program for wastewater system improvements. The number of customers estimated to benefit from this project is 432.
• The Bayou Meto Irrigation Water Distribution District in Lonoke County received a $28,681,838 loan from the Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities General Obligation Bond Fund for a previously approved project to provide groundwater protection, agricultural water supply, and environmental restoration and protection.
• The City of Mitchellville in Desha County received an additional loan totaling $75,000 with principal forgiveness from the Arkansas Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund program for wastewater treatment facility improvements to complete a previously approved project. Approximately 180 customers will be served by the project.
• The Gravel Ridge Sewer District SID #213 in Pulaski County received an additional loan totaling $1,043,260 from the Arkansas Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund program to complete a previously approved project for wastewater treatment facility improvements. The customer base for the project is 1,480.
• The Boeuf-Tensas Regional Irrigation Water Distribution District in Chicot, Desha, and parts of Drew, Ashley, Lincoln, and Jefferson Counties received approval to have an outstanding loan balance of $27,101 converted to a grant upon receipt of unexpended funds of $40,000 on or before June 30, 2021. The previously approved funds were to be used to match federal funds for the construction of a flood control and agriculture irrigation water supply project, but the federal funding was not received.