Northwest Arkansas water officials are balancing rapid population growth with a temporary lawn‑watering moratorium to protect regional water storage. The Benton‑Washington Regional Public Water Authority (BWRPWA) reports that the ban, which began earlier this summer, has cut daily demand by roughly 2 million gallons, allowing storage levels to stop declining.
Moratorium eases pressure on the system
General manager Scott Borman said customers have reduced daily use by about 2 million gallons since the authority asked residents to stop irrigating lawns. “Our goal all along was to remove 2 million gallons or so off the daily demand by eliminating lawn irrigation,” Borman explained. The reduction has slowed the daily drop of storage, which previously fell 2‑3 feet per day, and begun a slow recovery.
The ban will remain in effect through Sept. 1, with officials promising a review at that time. If weather conditions improve, the restriction could be lifted sooner. Residents may still use water for household needs, agriculture, and topping off existing pools, but are asked not to fill new pools or water lawns.
Infrastructure expansion to keep pace with growth
BWRPWA serves 17 customer systems across roughly 1,900 square miles of Benton and Washington counties, extending west to Westville, Oklahoma. The authority notes that the fastest‑growing communities in its service area include Pea Ridge, Centerton, Highfill, Decatur and Gentry.
Since 2008, the authority has more than doubled its treatment capacity—from 12 million gallons per day to over 30 million gallons per day—and added storage at sites near Centerton, Garfield and Lincoln. Ongoing projects include a new 36‑mile pipeline from the treatment plant to Decatur storage, with a segment already in the ground and another under construction through Bentonville. A line serving a Centerton storage tank is slated for service by May 2027.
Additional projects slated for the near term are a 10‑million‑gallon storage expansion at Decatur beginning Oct. 1, a high‑service pump station expected in November that will double pumping capacity, and a 54‑inch welded steel transmission line to augment the existing 36‑inch line. “The things that we’re building right now are designed to get us through 2050,” Borman said, adding that further intake and treatment plant expansions will likely be needed as the region continues to grow.
Funding the water system without tax dollars
The authority finances its expansion through revenue bonds, which are reflected in the wholesale rates charged to the 17 water‑purchasing systems. Rather than borrowing large sums all at once, BWRPWA takes a phased approach, borrowing as individual projects move forward. Current interest rates influence this strategy, and a future decline could allow refinancing to keep rates low for customers.
Beaver Water District also preparing for demand
Nearby Beaver Water District, which supplies drinking water to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville, is similarly planning for growth. CEO Lane Crider said the district serves more than 400,000 residents and meets regularly with other utilities drawing from Beaver Lake to coordinate on shared challenges, with growth being the most prominent issue.
Beaver Water maintains a 15‑year financial plan that projects capital needs, staffing and borrowing requirements. With a treatment capacity of 140 million gallons per day, the district has seen average daily demand this year sit in the mid‑ to upper‑70‑million‑gallon range, spiking during recent heat waves.
Both water authorities emphasize long‑term planning, infrastructure investment and prudent financing to ensure that Northwest Arkansas families have reliable water supplies as the region’s population continues to expand.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
