Sanders, Dept. of Agriculture, ANRC Announce $60 Million to Address Statewide Water Needs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas is providing $60 million to address statewide water infrastructure needs. This includes $55 million to address water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects and $5 million for the Arkansas Rural Water Association to assist water and wastewater systems across the state. The legislature approved these funds in Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) on June 21, 2024.

"My administration has worked with our federal partners to appropriately put money into Arkansas' water infrastructure development, and this announcement adds to that commitment," said Governor Sanders. "Every Arkansan deserves safe and accessible drinking water, and with this funding, we will move closer to that goal."

"Water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critically important to the everyday lives of all Arkansans," said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. "We appreciate Governor Sanders' consistent leadership on water issues and will work diligently to utilize these newly approved funds, as well as our existing programs and efforts, to meet water and wastewater needs across the state."

These federal funds build on Governor Sanders' existing efforts to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the state and provide dependable services to all Arkansans. Under Governor Sanders' leadership, the State of Arkansas is administering over $2.5 billion for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds.

To be eligible for the funding announced today, water and wastewater projects must be on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) waitlist approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) in December 2022. Projects will receive funding based on their readiness to proceed to construction and must expense all funds by December 31, 2026.

In addition to today's announcement, Governor Sanders has launched a comprehensive analysis and review of Arkansas' State Water Plan.