The Importance of Water Infrastructure
Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new City of Hot Springs Water Plant that will be responsible for delivering clean, reliable, and safe drinking water for thousands of Arkansans.
Exciting celebrations like these are timely reminders of just how important – and vital – water infrastructure is to the wellness of our local communities. For thousands of years, civilizations have been built around abundant water sources. A key element in urban growth, water still plays a vital role in shaping and sustaining our modern-day society.
Whether it’s a drinking water storage facility, treatment plant, wastewater system, flood mitigation, or even a navigable waterway like the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), reliable water infrastructure not only ensures residents have the supply they need for their own households, but it also ensures a thriving ecosystem and economy.
Oftentimes, the word “infrastructure” takes our thoughts directly to the roads we drive on, the buildings that house our local businesses, and the power grids that keep our homes lit and warm. These are the tangible, physical structures that support our economic activity and transportation needs.
On the other hand, water infrastructure often goes unnoticed, either because of its literal inability to be seen or because we come to expect what they produce so readily, it tends to be forgotten. These systems allow our daily lives to function so smoothly that when working properly, they’re hardly noticed and often taken for granted. But when failure occurs, dysfunction and disruption can be felt almost immediately.
Arkansas is a water-rich state. According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, we proudly hold over 600,000 acres of surface water. With 4.8 trillion gallons of water in our lakes, 200 trillion gallons in the ground, and Arkansans using an average of 157 gallons of water a day, our state relies heavily on a robust infrastructure system that can meet our demands and support this incredibly abundant resource.
Our growing state demands water infrastructure that can keep up with its pace. I’m grateful to our state and local leaders for their proactive investment in updating our infrastructure to ensure safer drinking water while also supporting our economic and environmental needs. Their dedication to mitigating flood risk to protect families, property, agriculture, and other economic infrastructure is also greatly welcomed, and I am always dedicated and proud to partner with their efforts on the federal level to build a more prosperous, sustainable Arkansas.