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City outlines progress and priorities to address water consent order and leaks
Summary
Water department staff briefed the council on progress addressing an Arkansas Department of Health consent order: quarterly reports submitted, long-range plan ~60–65% complete, a new well producing ~1,200 gpm (below target), about 20 hydrants need repair and plans to remove bypass pumps and repair pump stations were prioritized.
City water staff told the council they are moving on multiple fronts to comply with a Department of Health consent order and to stabilize distribution and treatment operations.
Mister Rose, water department lead, said the quarterly report requested by the health department has been submitted and staff are preparing another report within about a month. Rose said the long-range plan — covering distribution, treatment, production and storage — is roughly 60–65% complete and that design work will accelerate once loan closing provides funding.
Consultant Ken and Rose reported the recently installed well is producing about 1,200 gallons per minute, short of an original 2,000‑gpm target, and that the well’s output has declined because it must be run frequently while distribution leaks remain significant. "It's producing 1,200 gallons a minute," Ken said.
Staff emphasized removing bypass pumps as a priority because the consent order prohibits using bypass pumps as a temporary pumping system. The plan is to repair Grumman Rupp pump stations (starting with Pump Station 3 in Midland Heights), calibrate flow meters at treatment stations, and repair underground pumps and lagoons as funding allows.
Mister Rose said the department has identified approximately 20 fire hydrants that need full repair and is compiling maps and updated lists to present to the council; staff also described an evolving work‑order system to track and prioritize leak repairs. Rose urged residents to contact the office about irregular or unusually high utility bills so staff can investigate potential meter‑reading or data entry errors.
Council members were told the city recently received a $520,000 leachate grant for the landfill and is pursuing additional grants for road repair; council directed staff to provide regular water and finance updates on future agendas.
The council did not take new formal action on water items at this meeting but directed staff to continue implementing repairs and return with loan/contract updates as they become available.
