Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas is putting another $8.2 million toward water infrastructure, with state officials approving funding for three projects involving wastewater systems and agricultural irrigation.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the financial assistance, which includes two emergency loans for communities dealing with water and wastewater needs and a much larger loan for a major irrigation project in eastern Arkansas. Together, the projects are expected to help communities maintain essential services while supporting agricultural water needs across the state.
“Reliable water infrastructure is essential to Arkansas’ growth, from our farms and businesses to families and communities across the state,” said Governor Sanders. “These projects will strengthen critical water systems, support economic growth, and ensure Arkansas families have clean drinking water. We’re investing in the resources our communities need to keep the Natural State the best place in America to live, work, raise a family, and do business.”
The funding comes as Arkansas continues to deal with aging water systems and growing demands for improvements. State officials have said the state faces more than $20 billion in water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years because of aging facilities and a lack of capacity.
The latest approvals cover projects in Lawrence, Lafayette and Prairie counties.
In Lawrence County, the City of Black Rock was approved for a $100,000 emergency loan through the Water Development Fund. The city’s water system currently serves 590 customers. The money will be used to make improvements to a sewer lift station, an important part of the system used to move wastewater.
Another $100,000 emergency loan was approved for the City of Stamps in Lafayette County. The project serves a current customer base of 1,258 residents, and the funding will go toward repairs at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
The third project accounts for $8 million of the total funding. The White River Regional Irrigation District in Prairie County received approval for a loan through the General Obligation Bond Program. The additional money will help continue construction of the Grand Prairie Demonstration Project.
Once completed, the Grand Prairie project is expected to provide surface water irrigation to more than 362,000 acres located within areas where groundwater supplies are considered critical. The project is therefore tied not only to water infrastructure but also to the state’s agricultural needs.
“Arkansas is facing more than $20 billion in water-infrastructure needs over the next two decades due to aging systems and lack of capacity,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Today’s funding helps communities strengthen the essential systems that protect public health, support economic growth, and provide the reliable water service Arkansans depend on every day.”
Chris Colclasure, director of the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division, also pointed to the importance of keeping water systems in good condition as Arkansas continues to grow.
“Maintaining and improving water infrastructure is critical to Arkansas’ long-term success,” said Chris Colclasure, Director of the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division. “These investments give communities the support they need to reinforce drinking water, wastewater, and irrigation systems, ensuring dependable service for residents, businesses, and agriculture across the state.”
The latest funding is part of a broader effort by the Sanders administration to invest in water and wastewater infrastructure. Since Sanders took office, $2.8 billion in state and federal funding has been approved for water and wastewater projects across all 75 Arkansas counties.
The state is also working on a broader update to its Arkansas Water Plan. In 2023, Sanders issued Executive Order 23-27, launching a comprehensive review and update of the plan. The effort covers issues including water resources, water supply, water demand and water quality.
The first phase of the updated plan was completed in August 2024 by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The second phase is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
For the three projects announced this week, the funding will address needs ranging from local wastewater repairs to a large-scale irrigation effort. State officials say the investments are part of the larger challenge of maintaining reliable water systems while preparing Arkansas communities and agriculture for future demands.
