In 1992 Benton/Washington Regional Public Water Authority was originally founded as 'Benton/Washington County Water Association'. In September of 1996 Construction was underway for the water treatment facility and in May of 1999 it was producing drinking water for the rural communities in Northwest Arkansas.
We are a 12 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) treatment plant. We have 3 water storage locations with one more soon to be in use. 12.5 million gallons in Decatur, 5 million gallons in Lincoln, and just under 900,000 gallons in Garfield. The new tank, a composite elevated tank, will add an additional 3.5 million gallons.
Our distribution system is made up of ductile iron pipe ranging from 12" to 36" in diameter. There are approximately 120 miles of pipeline in the ground. We also run a booster pump station in Lincoln which produces the pressure required to fill the Lincoln water storage tanks.
Currently we are in the process of building a new treatment facility next to our present one. It will give us the ability to treat an additional 24 MGD for the rural customers in Northwest Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
