City councils in Mississippi and Arkansas approved contracts to move forward with wastewater infrastructure improvements with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the Lincoln, Arkansas, city council approved a contract with McClelland Consulting Engineers to apply for four ARPA grants to be used for sewer projects throughout the city.
Funding would be used for a non-potable water reclamation project for the wastewater treatment plant, an expansion to the Sugar Hill sewer project, on-stie security improvements, and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant grit removal system.
The grants must be submitted by Nov. 4 to the Arkansas Natural Resources commission, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Additionally, the Starksville Utilities Department in Mississippi is preparing for construction of a $2.3 million project that will address aging drinking water mains and lines, which would impact an estimated 100 land parcels. In a quote to the The Dispatch, the capital project manager for SUD Mary Williams said leaks and breaks are the primary reason for this aspect of the project.
“Historically, we’ve had issues on Main Street with pressure, with breaks, things like that,” Williams said in The Dispatch article. “So, by getting rid of this older system with the older materials and installing new material with the adequate size … that’s the goal of the project.”
Additional work will be conducted on sewer line upgrades near a handful of businesses. A townhall meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 so residents and affected parties can learn greater detail of the construction plans. Construction could start as early as January, and SUD aims to have the work completed by the end of 2023.
