Hundreds of households in western Pulaski County are a step closer to being able to receive Central Arkansas Water through their taps.
The unincorporated area of Ferndale, where about 700 households get their water from wells, is one of the last sections of the county not served by the utility. The area includes Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center and the Arkansas 4-H Center.
For the area to connect to Central Arkansas Water's supply, about $9 million worth of infrastructure in the form of new pipe is needed, according to Elaine Jones, president of West Pulaski Public Water Authority, an improvement district covering that area. The area does not have its own water utility.
Central Arkansas Water's board of commissioners on Thursday voted to support those improvements. Though the utility has not officially committed money to the project, the approved resolution indicates that Central Arkansas Water is willing to loan West Pulaski Public Water Authority the money to cover 20 percent of the project's cost, as long as that amount does not exceed $1.8 million.
The utility also indicated that if that project moves forward, Central Arkansas Water is willing to contribute additional funding of up to $400,000 in order to widen existing pipes so that they can handle a heavier flow of water.
Jones estimated that each household would pay between $50 and $75 each month for water from Central Arkansas Water. Costs ultimately depend on how many households sign on to receive water from Central Arkansas Water. Over the last three years, 300 people have said they want in and sent Jones $75 deposits, she said. The improvement district hosted its first public meeting on Aug. 30.
The average Little Rock or North Little Rock customer pays a monthly bill of about $16.
She said the improvement district is looking for grants to cover the cost of the project. The area has some low-income residents, so she said that could help in getting grants and keeping costs low.
"They can't afford a giant, huge water bill," she said. "We're doing the very, very best that we can to keep their monthly bill low."
The project will not affect Central Arkansas Water's existing customers' rates, utility spokesman Doug Shackelford said. Part of the area is in Little Rock's extraterritorial jurisdiction, meaning it is outside city limits but within the city's zoning control.
Central Arkansas Water may end up not having to contribute toward the project's cost if the district can get all of the funding from a grant.
Shackelford said Central Arkansas Water's decision to chip in to the project is not necessarily in anticipation of future development in that area, but developers might be more likely to build in that area if it has access to water from Central Arkansas Water rather than well water.
The process is still in its early stages, though efforts to get water from Central Arkansas Water out to that area have been going on for decades, Jones said.
"It's such a building, growing area out here that not having city water surprises a whole lot of people," she said.
Metro on 09/17/2018