Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Plans Finalized For Bodcaw-Waterloo Water Project

Getting safe drinking water could soon become a reality for residents in the southern portion of Nevada County.

In a meeting at Waterloo, held Tuesday, Feb. 18, plans were finalized for a rural water project.

The City of Bodcaw agreed to be the parent entity for the project, which was originally begun in 1989. At first, Willisville and Rosston were to be the parent cities for the project, but both backed out, leaving the project in limbo.

Then, Bodcaw stepped in and placed itself in the forefront to be the project's parent city. According to Bodcaw Mayor Larry Hicks, grants for $1.5 million have already been approved by the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (AIDC). He said the city will get loans for the remaining $1.3 million needed for the rest of the projected costs.

Hicks said NRS Engineering of Texarkana is doing the engineering work.

The project will be done in two phases, with the initial phase including Waterloo, Bodcaw and West Rosston. Hicks said it will cost an estimated $2.8 million to finish this portion.

However, if all goes well, the second phase, which includes Falcon, from Bodcaw west to the Hempstead County line, Laneburg and Sutton, could be started before the first phase is completed.

At this point, he said, residents need to sign up and make their deposits. Connection fees will be $50, with this money due by May 1. Meter deposits will also be $50 and are due by Nov. 1.

Hicks said time is of the essence as the AIDC gave the city a deadline of six months to get construction on the project underway.

There are 403 residences included in the first phase of the project, with 85 percent needed to be signed up before Bodcaw can procure the necessary loans. This means at least 343 residences need to sign up so the rural water concept can become a reality instead of a dream.

Hicks said there will be about residences involved in phase II, and another 85 percent of these will need to get signed up as well.

In order to get to this point, wells in the affected area had to be tested. Hicks said samples were taken from 75 area wells, with the results startling. Of the wells tested, only three returned with samples being good enough for human consumption.

Hicks said the bacteria count was so high in about half the wells tested the Arkansas Department of Health couldn't check for the E-coli bacteria.

"We need a good, safe water supply," he said.

Because of the AIDC deadline, Hicks said volunteers will be looking to get easements signed while they are working on getting people signed up.

The system, he said, will actually increase the property values of landowners in the region, and could help reduce fire insurance rates. This would be done because of fire hydrants placed along the line, which would make it easier for volunteer fire departments to get water without having to search.

The Bodcaw mayor said there are no drawbacks to the water project, because the people will win once it's in place.

Several wells in the area dried up during the drought of 1995. Hicks said residents of Waterloo have to haul water because theirs isn't fit to drink.

This project would eliminate both problems. Those who sign up would have a reliable supply of safe water and no one would have to worry about wells drying up again.

Another benefit would be the elimination of having to buy well pumps for many people. These pumps can run anywhere from $300 to $400 for shallow well pumps to $900 and up for those used in deep wells.

These pumps also run on electricity, and with the rural water project in place, could conceivably cut electric costs to some consumers.

There will be two well sites for the water supply, Hicks said. Both will be in the Bodcaw area. There will be two storage tanks, one about three miles south of Bodcaw on Highway 53 and the other about three miles north of the intersection of highways 4 and 53 on 53. A standpipe will be constructed at Waterloo, and there will be two pumping stations built as well. He said if it's needed a treatment plant will be built as well.

Both phases will cost about $4 million. Hicks said grants will be obtained where possible, but loans will have to be procured as well.

He said Bodcaw will try to borrow the money either from the Rural Economic Conservation District (RECD), formerly Farmers Home Administration, or the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission. Hicks' preference is the RECD because the city could get lower interest rates and a 40 year payback period. The ASWC offers 30 year terms on its loans.

If, he said, 85 percent of those affected sign up, the anticipated water bills will be $27 or $28 per month, which is lower than the state's average. Depending on the interest rate the city gets and the number of people who sign up, the rates could be lower.

"We're going to have community meetings on this," Hicks said, "to get people signed up and get started." The next one will be March 4 at Bodcaw's community center at 7 p.m.

The purpose of these meetings will be to explain the system and the need for getting things done quickly because of the AIDC deadline.

One thing residents in the area need to know, if they sign up for the rural water project, they must disconnect their wells from their homes when the lines are run to their houses. This is done to prevent the system from being contaminated by water from the wells.

However, people can still use their wells for gardens, cattle or washing cars. They simply can't have two systems connected to their homes.

Because of the large number of older residents and people on fixed incomes in the project area, Hicks said the deposits were set low and spread out so the people could make plans to save the money and get hooked up.

He said the AIDC regulations will prevent any "dry" hookups. This means if a deposit is taken, meters must be installed.

Hicks urges residents in the project area to sign up as soon as possible to save money. Once the water lines are in place, he said, it will cost residents more to get connected.

For more information on the project, or to get an application to sign up, call Hicks at 899-2407.