Arkansas

Funding

• ‍Water systems with up-to-date data AM plans are awarded 10 bonus points (using the priority criteria of the DWSRF) by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
• For small systems technical assistance, ADH utilizes set-asides from the DWSRF. AM plans are included in the assistance.

Regulatory

• Retail water providers are required to complete a rate study, including inventory of essential assets, every five years, or before a major system update, per the state’s Oversight of Retail Water Providers, Act 605 of 2021. Systems are required to have a written Long-Range Plan (covering at least a 10 year period), per Section VII. I. of the state rules pertaining to PWSs. ADH now requires the long-range plan to include an AM plan. Every five years, the plan must be updated. It must address several components of asset management, including: critical assets, an operation & management plan (and operating budget), required sustainable level-of-service, and a description of the current state of the water system’s assets.

Asset Management Assistance Activities

• Training and education on duties and responsibilities of systems operation and maintenance (including AM) is provided by CU for governing boards and staff.

• Arkansas Capacity Development Strategy For Existing PWSs: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/CapacityDevelopmentStrategyExistingSystems.pdf