Clinton, Arkansas – On Sunday, numerous residents in the quaint town of Bee Branch were notified about a significant water leak affecting the vicinity.
The alert emphasized that all water services south of Bee Branch Mountain would need to be shut down within the hour. It occurred only weeks after residents in the region had faced a problem of insufficient water supply.
“They experienced a rupture in their primary eight-inch line, but they successfully managed to shut it down.” Their tanks had limited storage capacity, which resulted in more individuals running out of water than anticipated. “However, they successfully completed that repair,” stated Will Hinchey, the Clinton Water Manager.
Residents of Bee Branch have expressed their frustrations, indicating that these problems have been ongoing for a considerable period.
We presented those questions to Hinchey, who clarified that the problems in Bee Branch can be summarized into a single issue.
“He explained that the distribution aspect is an entirely separate matter.”
Members are currently facing challenges with water leaks and insufficient supplies, and Hinchey noted that the situation has been exacerbated by a shortage of funding.
Hinchey stated that Bee Branch has been independent for quite some time, and there has been a lack of funding available for many to maintain and upgrade their infrastructure.
Change is approaching for the town, which has been facing challenges due to the absence of an additional tank that contributes to the issue of water shortages.
In the upcoming year, Bee Branch water officials will be getting essential assistance from Hinchey and his team.
“Bee Branch is considered a customer of the Clinton Water Department overall, and with this merger, the 1,400 to 1,500 customers we’ve previously discussed will officially become Clinton customers,” stated Hinchey.
He described the merger as the “Regionalization Project.” Bee Branch is presently a customer of the Clinton Water Department; however, this transition will provide the town with enhanced resources and updates.
“We will be replacing some line meters.” The entire system will undergo a meter replacement to address the issue of water loss. “There is no method for them to assess the tank’s level without actually driving through it,” Hinchey stated. “Their SCADA system is currently non-operational, which adds another project to our list funded by this money. If there’s a leak, we might be able to detect it sooner and address it more swiftly.”
Hinchey addressed residents’ concerns about their bills, stating that there is a plan designed to provide assistance.
“Transitioning from a 4% interest rate to a mere 1.5% for repaying that loan would result in significant savings for the system,” he stated.
The agreement between Bee Branch and Clinton paves the way for the merger to take effect by August 30, 2025, at the latest.
