Governor Sanders announces $153 million boost for Arkansas water infrastructure projects – KATV

Report on Arkansas’s Investment in Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Development

Executive Summary

The state of Arkansas, under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has allocated over $153 million in financial assistance for critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This investment, approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, is a significant step towards achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all citizens. The funding supports the state’s updated Arkansas Water Plan and aims to enhance public health, foster economic growth, and build resilient communities, directly contributing to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This financial initiative is strategically aligned with multiple SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core objective of the funding is to improve and sustain water and wastewater systems. Projects include rehabilitating sewer plants, upgrading treatment facilities, and replacing meters, all of which are essential for providing universal access to safe water and sanitation.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By investing in foundational infrastructure, Arkansas is making its communities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Reliable water systems are a prerequisite for community expansion and economic development.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Access to clean water and effective sanitation systems is fundamental to preventing disease and promoting public health, ensuring healthy lives for all Arkansans.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The initiative supports the development of quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure. Modernization efforts, such as the implementation of smart meters and regionalization projects, foster innovation in resource management.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The inclusion of the Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program specifically targets vulnerable populations, ensuring that the benefits of improved infrastructure are distributed equitably.
• SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land: Upgrading wastewater treatment facilities and implementing remediation programs for septic tanks and landfills directly reduces pollution, protecting local water bodies and terrestrial ecosystems.

Detailed Funding Allocation by Program

Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund – $81,382,996

This fund directly supports SDG 6 by financing projects to improve wastewater treatment and sanitation systems, thereby protecting public health (SDG 3) and aquatic ecosystems (SDG 14).

1. Blevins, Hempstead County: $1,264,400 for sewer plant rehabilitation.
2. Clarksville, Johnson County: $36,344,429 for pollution control facility improvements.
3. Clinton, Van Buren County: $2,651,410 for sewage pump station rehabilitation.
4. Dawn Hill Country Club & Cynthiana Townhouses POA, Benton County: $3,253,848 for sanitary sewer upgrades.
5. Dyess, Mississippi County: $3,555,345 for wastewater collection system improvements.
6. Etowah, Mississippi County: $450,667 for wastewater system improvements.
7. Gould, Lincoln County: $1,889,750 for wastewater treatment plant improvements.
8. H2Ozarks, Benton County: $250,000 for a septic tank remediation program.
9. Hardy, Sharp County: $1,338,202 for wastewater treatment facility improvements.
10. Highland, Sharp County: $2,584,854 for wastewater treatment facility improvements.
11. Hope, Hempstead County: $521,830 for a landfill remediation project.
12. Illinois River Watershed Partnership, Benton County: $83,000 for a septic tank remediation program.
13. Junction City, Union County: $5,500,000 for wastewater line improvements.
14. Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority: $4,096,463.50 for six projects including sludge transfer pump station improvements and line assessments.
15. Mayflower, Faulkner County: $11,544,000 for a regionalization project with Conway Corporation, enhancing infrastructure resilience (SDG 9).
16. Mountain Pine, Garland County: $7,393,000 for a sewer system rehabilitation project.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – $54,629,059

Projects under this fund advance SDG 6 by ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water through infrastructure upgrades, efficient meter systems, and system improvements that promote water conservation.

1. Bentonville, Benton County: $9,621,360 for a supply water transmission central loop project.
2. Bradley, Lafayette County: $144,719 for water meter replacement.
3. Branch, Franklin County: $192,225 for water meters.
4. Cross County Rural Water System PFB, Cross County: $5,299,037 for manganese removal renovations, a transfer switch, meter replacement, and tank improvements.
5. Cushman, Independence County: $435,800 for water meter and system improvements.
6. Elaine, Phillips County: $4,088,990 for water system improvements.
7. Freedom Public Water Authority, Polk County: $338,298 for a meter project.
8. Garfield, Benton County: $7,500,000 for water main improvements.
9. Hardy, Sharp County: $778,865 for a metering system replacement.
10. Highway 4 and 24 Water Association, Ouachita County: $286,830 for water improvements.
11. Horatio, Sevier County: $426,811 for water meter replacements.
12. Keiser, Mississippi County: $652,685 for a Smart Meter Modernization Initiative.
13. Leola, Grant County: $370,395 for water meter replacements.
14. Lincoln, Washington County: $2,050,000 for water meter replacements.
15. Little River Water Authority, Mississippi County: $221,500 for water meters.
16. Magnolia, Columbia County: $3,846,901 for water meter replacements.
17. Mountain Top Public Water Authority, Cleburne County: $1,800,000 for a meter project.
18. Mulberry, Crawford County: $165,594 for a Smart Water Meter Modernization project.
19. Pangburn, White County: $1,358,018 for water meter replacements.
20. Quitman, Cleburne County: $3,996,820 for water system improvements.
21. Sparkman, Dallas County: $454,341 for a meter replacement and backup generator.
22. Star City, Lincoln County: $932,340 for water system improvements.
23. Trumann, Poinsett County: $5,300,000 for manganese removal filtration improvements.
24. Tumbling Shoals Water System PWA, Cleburne County: $4,157,530 for pump station and piping improvements.
25. Vanndale-Birdeye Water Association, Cross County: $210,000 for an induced draft aerator replacement.
26. Washington Water Authority, Washington County: $1,222,754 for the Goose Creek project.

Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program – $1,120,000

This program specifically targets SDG 10 by providing grants to communities with limited resources, ensuring equitable access to essential water services and resilient infrastructure.

1. Bonanza, Bradley County: $140,000 for meter upgrades.
2. Dierks, Howard County: $195,400 for a new generator.
3. Hickory Ridge, Cross County: $242,000 for water filter improvements.
4. Ozan Creek Rural Water Authority, Sebastian County: $97,711 for a creek crossing line repair.
5. Tuckerman, Jackson County: $294,889 for a smart meter replacement.
6. Warren, Franklin County: $150,000 for a regionalization project with Corinth Valley.

State Programs – $16,842,175

These state-level funds provide flexible financing for a range of critical water and wastewater projects, contributing to overall infrastructure resilience (SDG 9) and sustainable community development (SDG 11).

1. Beebe, White County: $3,248,774 for a manhole rehabilitation project and a detention basin project.
2. Gravette, Benton County: $309,000 for water meter upgrades.
3. H2Ozarks, Washington County: $64,700 grant for administrative costs of the Septic Tank Remediation Program.
4. Mansfield, Sebastian County: $100,000 emergency loan for wastewater treatment plant repairs.
5. Norman, Sebastian County: $12,360 for repairs at Huddleston Creek.
6. Saline County Wastewater and Sanitary Sewer PFB, Saline County: $3,807,341 for wastewater treatment plant improvements.
7. Saline Regional Public Water Authority, Saline County: $7,745,730 to advance a wholesale water system using water from the Ouachita River.
8. Washington Water Authority, Washington County: $1,554,270 for the Cove Creek waterline project.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The entire article is centered on providing financial assistance for “ongoing water and wastewater projects in Arkansas.” This directly aligns with the core mission of SDG 6, which is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The funding is explicitly divided into categories like the “Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund” and the “Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.”

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The article emphasizes the need to upgrade and maintain essential infrastructure. Governor Sanders is quoted saying, “Arkansas’ communities are expanding and demanding more from our infrastructure.” The investment of over $153 million is for making “critical improvements” to water infrastructure, which is a key component of SDG 9’s goal to build resilient infrastructure.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• A direct connection to public health is made in the article. The Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, Wes Ward, states, “Reliable water and wastewater systems are essential for… the health of Arkansans.” This highlights that the primary goal of providing clean water and treating wastewater is to ensure the well-being of the population, which is the focus of SDG 3.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The initiative aims to improve basic services for numerous communities across Arkansas, from large cities like Little Rock to small towns like Blevins and Dyess. The article notes that these systems are essential for the “economic growth of our communities.” This focus on improving foundational services to make communities more sustainable and economically viable connects directly to SDG 11. The specific “Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program” further reinforces this link.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
  • The article details the “$54,629,059” allocated to the “Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.” Projects funded under this, such as “water system improvements” in Elaine, “water meter replacements” in Horatio, and “manganese removal filtration improvements” in Trumann, are direct actions to ensure safe and reliable drinking water for the listed communities.
• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, …halving the proportion of untreated wastewater…
  • The “$81,382,996” for the “Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund” is dedicated to this target. Projects like “sewer plant rehabilitation” in Blevins, “pollution control facility improvements” in Clarksville, and “wastewater treatment plant improvements” in Gould are explicitly aimed at improving wastewater management and reducing water pollution.
• Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.
  • The funding is not managed by a single central entity but is distributed to a wide array of local “business entities,” including county water authorities, public facilities boards, and property owners associations (e.g., “Cross County Rural Water System Public Facilities Board,” “Dawn Hill Country Club & Cynthiana Townhouses Property Owners Association”). This model empowers local communities to manage their own water and sanitation improvements.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
  • The investment of over $153 million is a direct effort to develop and upgrade Arkansas’s water infrastructure. The article states the goal is to ensure “Arkansas’ water systems can keep up with demand” as communities expand, which speaks to building reliable and sustainable infrastructure to support both economic growth and the well-being of citizens.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…
  • Water and sanitation are fundamental basic services. The article lists dozens of towns and cities receiving funds to improve these services for their residents. The creation of the “Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program” specifically targets this goal by ensuring that even the most vulnerable communities get access to funding for critical upgrades.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
  • By funding projects that improve wastewater treatment (“sewage pump station rehabilitation,” “septic tank remediation program”) and ensure clean drinking water (“manganese removal”), the state is taking direct action to reduce the population’s exposure to waterborne pathogens and contaminants, thereby preventing illness and contributing to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Implied Indicators for SDG 6

• Indicator 6.1.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services): The article provides the “current customer base” for each funded project. Summing these numbers provides a quantitative measure of the population whose access to safely managed drinking water is being improved or secured. For example, the project in Bentonville serves a customer base of 94,400, while the one in Elaine serves 473.
• Indicator 6.3.1 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated): The number of wastewater treatment plants, sewer systems, and pollution control facilities being built or rehabilitated is an implied indicator. The article lists numerous projects, such as the “sewer plant rehabilitation” in Blevins and “wastewater treatment facility improvements” in Hardy, which directly contribute to increasing the proportion of safely treated wastewater.
• Indicator 6.a.1 (Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan): The article explicitly states the total amount of financial assistance being issued: “more than $153 million.” The specific amounts for each fund (e.g., “$81,382,996” for the Clean Water fund) serve as direct financial indicators of the government’s investment.

Implied Indicators for SDG 9

• Financial Investment in Infrastructure: The total funding of over $153 million is a direct indicator of investment in developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure, as per Target 9.1.
• Number of Infrastructure Projects: The comprehensive list of recipients and their specific projects (e.g., “supply water transmission central loop project,” “manhole rehabilitation project”) serves as an indicator of the scale and scope of the infrastructure development effort.

Implied Indicators for SDG 11

• Number of Communities with Improved Basic Services: The article lists dozens of distinct communities, from large to small, that are recipients of the funding. This number can be used as an indicator of progress towards ensuring access to basic services for all settlements. The existence of a dedicated “$1,120,000” grant program for “Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities” is a specific measure of the focus on equitable access.

Implied Indicators for SDG 3

• Number of Public Health Protection Projects: The number of projects aimed at removing contaminants (e.g., manganese removal in Trumann) and improving sanitation (e.g., septic tank remediation programs for H2Ozarks) can be used as a proxy indicator for efforts to reduce illnesses from water pollution, as per Target 3.9.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: katv.com