N o r t h w e s t A r k a n s a s D r i n k i n g W at e r S o u r c e

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1 N o r t h w e s t A r k a n s a s D r i n k i n g W at e r S o u r c e

2 Mission To serve our customers needs by providing high quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements and is economically priced consistent with our quality standards. History Over 50 years ago, visionary community leaders met together to discuss the need for a long-term supply of clean, safe water for Northwest Arkansas. With an eye to the future, and the knowledge that a large lake was the best source of water, these citizens worked to establish Beaver Lake Reservoir. On August 27, 1959, a circuit court order officially established Beaver Water District. The District executed agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for storage of water supply in Beaver Lake sufficient to provide 120 million gallons a day (mgd) average. The District also executed agreements with Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale to pay for storage rights and supply drinking water. The dam that created Beaver Reservoir and the first water treatment plant were completed in the mid-1960s. Times have changed significantly since then. Three additional water utilities have been created to provide drinking water from Beaver Lake. The population of Benton and Washington counties has grown from 92,000 to over 400,000 people. Beaver Water District has grown also from 10 mgd to 140 mgd treatment plant capacity with the addition of a second raw water intake, building and expansion of the Croxton plant, the Steele plant renovation, and a new solids residuals handling facility. The District added a Pilot Plant which allows investigation of various chemical changes and treatment processes, with the goal of improving quality and making operations more effective and costefficient. The LEED Gold certified Administration Center, completed in June 2009, demonstrates a commitment to the future of Northwest Arkansas. It is built to be energy efficient and meet the needs of our customers for many years to come. Environmental protection, water efficiency, the health and wellness of the staff and customers, and use of recycled resources all played a part when planning the building. These additions and renovations ensure the District will be able to provide water to Benton and Washington Counties for years to come. 2

3 Service Area Beaver Water District supplies drinking water to more than 300,000 people and industries in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and surrounding areas. That s one in 10 Arkansans! 3

4 The Quality of Your Drinking Water Beaver Water District must meet national, health-based standards for drinking water in order to produce safe, potable water. That means the District must comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), passed by Congress in 1974, and amended in 1986 and The SDWA s purpose is to protect public health by regulating the nation s public drinking water supply. The SDWA authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to set standards for drinking water in order to protect against naturally occurring and man-made contaminants. The standards set enforceable maximum contaminant levels and provide the framework for accepted methods to treat water to remove contaminants. In Arkansas, USEPA s requirements for the SDWA are managed and enforced by the Arkansas Department of Health. To comply with these standards, the District frequently tests water at various phases of the treatment process and monitors water before it leaves the facility on its way to customers. At every step, safeguards ensure that all standards are met and that the District is in compliance with the SDWA. Beaver Water District prepares an annual water quality report each year. Source Water Protection & Public Education Water is consumed every day not only by the people who live in Northwest Arkansas, but also by the industries that rely on an uninterrupted supply of affordable water for food processing and other manufacturing and production purposes. We cannot expect Beaver Lake to continue to be an outstanding resource if we are not proactive in protecting it. It is our responsibility as citizens and leaders of the Northwest Arkansas community to protect the resource provided for us. It is that resource that has raised our standard of living and improved countless lives, making possible a sustained economic prosperity unlike any in the United States. Beaver Water District has undertaken several projects to improve public awareness about drinking water and source water. Water Education Center K-12 education programs Quarterly newsletters Fact sheets Public awareness campaign Informative website Public outreach events 6

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7 The Water Education Center, located at the District s Administration Center features a wall-sized watershed map, a scaled plant model, and other educational features. The Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, Beaver Water District board members and staff are available to address various civic, community, and school groups on the topic of drinking water and watershed issues in Northwest Arkansas. To schedule a presentation for your group or organization, call Amy Wilson at or awilson@bwdh2o.org. It s about building something sustainable where water can always be taken out of the lake for drinking. The late John Lewis served on the Beaver Water District board of directors from 1975 to

8 Board of Directors Bill Watkins, President Chris Weiser, Vice President Herb Hawkins, Secretary/Treasurer Woody Bassett, Director Cathy Foraker, Director David Short, Director Beaver Water District Open to the Public Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 301 N. Primrose Road Lowell, AR Phone: (479)