Beaver Water District advances pipeline plans

BENTONVILLE -- The Beaver Water District wants to take 42 acres on Miller Road so it can provide more water west of Interstate 49.

The district's Board of Directors authorized its attorney for the project, West Doss, to begin condemnation proceedings if he was unable to reach an agreement to buy the land.

Bill Watkins, board chairman, said the proceedings are necessary because a "clean" title to the land proved to be too complicated.

"There are judgments against the property, tax liens against the property and mortgages against the property," Watkins said. "Somewhere in the past, the owner got involved in litigation."

The property was appraised at $775,000, according to the petition filed April 10 with the Benton County Circuit Clerk. State law gives the water district the power of eminent domain. The petition asks the court to accept the water district's appraisal and put that money into an escrow account until a decision is made on the amount of compensation. The water district would take possession of the land. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge John Scott.

The water district has been working for several years on plans for a major pipeline to take water to the other side of the interstate. All of the district's customers draw water through lines that run directly from the treatment plant east of Lowell.

Larry Lloyd, chief operating officer for the district, said the route allows for a gravity flow pipeline from the treatment plant to a site north of the section of the 412 Northern Bypass near Arkansas 112. The district plans for a pump station at the site and any of the four cities the district supplies water to -- Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville -- would be able to access that location.

Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said his city is planning for more growth west of the interstate.

"Many times, we take for granted the planning that has to take place in order for our cities and our area to have the kind of growth we've had and are having," Sprouse said. "I applaud organizations like the Beaver Water District and our local water providers that look ahead and plan."

Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin said his city's water needs are being adequately met by the 36-inch transmission line the city built. He said the western corridor could be used by Bentonville in the future.

McCaslin said the city's outside customers, including Cave Springs and Bella Vista, can still be served through the existing pipeline.

Tim Nyander, Fayetteville's utilities director, said the city is planning a western transmission line and will likely tie into the water district's new line at some point. Nyander said he had no timeline for the work.

"They've basically asked us to give them five years' notice," Nyander said.

Lloyd said, "To start the design work, take it to bids and do the construction takes about four or five years."

The district has an estimated cost of $54.6 million to build the 60-inch pipeline and $19.4 million to build the pump station.

The tentative timeline is to have the project done by 2032, but it could be done sooner if the cities tell the district they will need the capacity before then.

NW News on 04/29/2018