Northwest
Arkansas’
Drinking Water
Source
Beaver Water District Administration Center
301 N. Primrose Road
Lowell, AR 72745
Phone: (479) 756-3651
Open to the Public:
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
bwdh2o.org
INTRODUCTION
More than 50 years ago, visionary
community leaders got together to discuss
the need for a long-term supply of clean,
safe water for Northwest Arkansas.
Knowing that a large lake was the best
source of water, these citizens worked
to establish Beaver Lake. The dam that
created Beaver Lake and the first water
treatment plant were completed in the mid1960s. Since that time, the District has
expanded and upgraded facilities to keep up
with increased water demand and stricter
drinking water standards.
HISTORY
Shortly after World War II, the Beaver
Dam Association formed to promote construction of a dam on the White River
southwest of Eureka Springs. By 1954, progress had been made when the U.S.
Congress finally authorized dam construction for flood control, hydroelectric power
and other beneficial uses. However, the project could not move forward because the
Corps of Engineers could not demonstrate a sufficient cost-benefit ratio based on these
uses. That’s when Arkansas’ congressional delegation took decisive action that would
change Northwest Arkansas history. These forward-thinking leaders pushed for a
national Water Supply Act which would include municipal water supply as a beneficial
use. Finally, in 1958, this historic act recognized that the federal government needed to
play a role in the development of water supplies.
With the stroke of a pen, reauthorization of the construction of Beaver Dam had
been accomplished, with the understanding that local interests would pay the costs
associated with additional storage in the lake for drinking water. In the meantime,
Arkansas legislators were busy as well. The Legislature in 1957 passed Act 114 which
enabled the creation of nonprofit regional water distribution districts. In the case of
Beaver Dam, that meant a water district would be formed to pay for water storage
rights in Beaver Lake and, just as important, to pay for building and operating a water
intake and water treatment facilities.
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 story of how these leaders pulled together to make abundant and economical
drinking water supplies a reality in Northwest Arkansas is one worth remembering and
celebrating. While many of us today take water for granted, the leaders who formed
this District and envisioned the future knew better. They understood that water is
precious. Clean drinking water ensures the continued health of the population of a
region. Abundant, accessible water also ensures the economic vitality of a community.
The six leaders on the original board of directors of Beaver Water District – W.R.
Roy Vaughn, Hal Douglas, Hardy Croxton, Jerome McRoy, Joe M. Steele, and Clayton
Little -- deserve credit for making water supply a top priority in our region. Without
their foresight, Northwest Arkansas would not be the economic powerhouse it is today.
ORGANIZATION
Beaver Water District, formed under Arkansas Act 114 of 1957, is the oldest regional
water district in the state of Arkansas. The District is governed by a six-member elected
board of directors, with three members from Washington County and three from Benton
County. Board members serve six-year terms, staggered by two years in each county.
The board meets monthly, on the third Thursday.
Beaver Water District is the second largest drinking water facility in the state of
Arkansas. The District provides water at the wholesale price of $1.20 per thousand
gallons to its four customer cities – Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville.
These cities resell the water to their retail customers, as well as numerous cities and
communities throughout the region. Beaver Water District’s plants can produce up to
140 mgd of drinking water. In total, the District provides water to more than 250,000
people and industries, or more than 9 percent of Arkansas’ population.
MASTER PLAN - KEEPING OUR CUP FULL
Beaver Water District’s $104 million expansion project, begun in 2002, insures that
there will be drinking water supplies available to Northwest Arkansas well in the future.
The Croxton plant and its expansion can produce 100 MGD of drinking water. The
original 40 MGD Steele facility has been modified and updated. A new raw water
intake and a new solid residuals handling facility are now in operation. The District’s
expansion program is funded from reserves and the sale of bonds. In addition, a new
Administration center opened with public access to educational exhibits in June 2009.
NEW ADMINISTRATION CENTER
Beaver Water District’s Administration Center 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, energy efficiency, and use
of recycled resources all played a part when planning the building.
The Administration Center is constructed according to the U.S. Green Building
Council’s LEED guidelines. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design. The District is seeking certification through LEED. LEED is
a national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings that have
minimal impact on the surrounding environment. LEED building practices typically
result in economic and environmental savings.
The Administration Center is located just north of the existing secure entrance to
the treatment facility, off Primrose Road in Lowell, Arkansas. Health and wellness of
employees, District customers, and the environment were all considered when planning
the center.
The design focuses on maximum energy savings with an eye to the future. The
challenge was to build the center using resources to their greatest benefit and keeping
waste to a bare minimum. To tackle this goal, a series of meetings (referred to as
design charrettes) were held. These meetings involved District staff, members of the
architectural design team (architects, engineers,
and landscape architect) and the LEED
consultants.
The structure is oriented with long north/
south walls to take advantage of daylight and
provide ample views of the treatment facilities
to the south. Extensive landscaping, water
features, and areas of native plantings surround
the building. A ground source geothermal
system provides efficient heating and cooling.
This system, coupled with ample use of daylight
and lighting controls, results in low energy use. Pervious pavement in the parking area draining
water during a rainstorm in contrast with the
asphalt drive.
(Photograph by Dr. Robert Morgan, Beaver Water District)
Special Thanks
Board of Directors
David Short, President
Bill Watkins, Vice President
Chris Weiser, Secretary/Treasurer
Woody Bassett, Director
Mary Beth Brooks, Director
Herb Hawkins, Director
Staff At Beaver Water District
Alan Fortenberry, Chief Executive Officer
Larry Lloyd, Chief Operating Officer
Steven Russell, Chief Financial Officer
Ray Avery
Pat Bates
Frank Blowers
Charles Bluse
Ed Boatright
Jesse Burch
Bill Catt
Carri Chandler
Stacy Cheevers
Mindi Crosswhite
Cary Davis
Danny Dearing
Drew Dickey
Bob Evans
Steve Farmer
Dan Fields
Patrick Frizzell
Our
and
Colene Gaston
Travis Graves
Bill HagenBurger
Cindy Harp
Gonzalo Hidrogo
Mark Hogan
Scott Holloway
Damon Hoops
Roger Huddleston
Brad Hufhines
Jim Johnson
Chris Kollman
Alan Littrell
Kayla Mhoon
Lenny Millar
Bob Morgan
Taddy Nordyke
Kevin Oxford
Randy Paris
Kelly Payne
Danny Phipps
Socorro Pineda
Candy Roberts
Jon Rogers
Rick Sims
Mike Smart
Rusty Tate
Rob Turner
Dean Ward
Amy Wilson
Dennis Wright
Mike Yeager
MISSION
B e n t on
high qual-
mission is t o s e r v e o u r c u s t om e r s in t h e
W a s h in g t on C o u n t y
a r e a b y p r o v i d in g
i t y d r in k in g wa t e r t h a t m e e t s o r e x c e e d s a l l f e d e r a l
a n d s t a t e r e g u l a t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s in s u c h q u a n t i t i e s
a s m e e t s t h e i r d e m a n d s a n d is e c onomi c a l l y p r i c e d
c onsis t e n t wi t h o u r q u a l i t y s t a n d a r d s .