- (a) Public water and wastewater infrastructure is failing and in need of repair and replacement throughout Arkansas.
(b) Public entities operating water and wastewater infrastructure or flood control and drainage projects should develop sustainability plans that evaluate:
- (1) Current infrastructure status and historical trends in status;
- (2) Needed infrastructure repairs, replacement, and maintenance and associated schedules;
- (3) Federal and state programs available to support infrastructure projects; and
- (4) Contingency plans, including the potential for regionalization or privatization (including the usage of private water wells, septic systems, or decentralized systems), if the utilities are assessed to be unsustainable.
- (c) The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission may initiate receivership proceedings for public water and wastewater providers that have defaulted on loans.
(d) The commission will develop training programs for utility boards of directors on:
- (1) Sustainability planning; and
- (2) How these plans relate to the operation of their facilities and infrastructure.
- (e) The commission may provide lower loan rates to any utility that submits a sustainability plan with its financing application.