As Bentonville’s population surges, the City is investing $152.7 million to double the capacity of its wastewater treatment plant, ensuring it’s ready to handle the growth for decades to come.

The project will increase the Water Resource Recovery Facility’s capacity for wastewater treatment from 4 million gallons per day to 8 million. It will be the largest upgrade the plant has undergone, with the last major renovation completed in 2002, according to the facility’s manager Chris Earl.

The plant, located at 1901 N.E. A St., is approaching its max capacity, currently treating an average of 3.1 million gallons of wastewater a day, Earl said.

“With all of the construction going on in Bentonville, and the increase in population like it has been, we want to be ahead of that population surge when it happens, we definitely don't want to be behind,” he said.

The City will open a bidding process for the work that will be completed by early May. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in June, with completion expected by September 2029.

The upgrades are expected to keep up with Bentonville’s growth through 2045 based on current projections. However, that could change depending on actual population growth over the next two decades, Earl said.

Facility upgrades include:

• Adding a third clarifier — a settling tank used to clear water of solids — which is necessary in order to repair an existing clarifier that has failed structurally.

• Relocation and upgrades to the plant's influent building, where the raw sewage enters.

• Filters added to where the treated water flows out into the creek, so the water is “as clean as it can possibly get.”

• Upgrading to a new ultraviolet light disinfecting system that can handle the added flow. It will replace the current aging system.

The project is being funded by two loans from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund for $97.7 million and $55 million.  

The City has closed on the $97.7 million loan at a combined interest rate plus fee of 1.75% and a term of 20 years, according to Mike Bender, water utilities director.  The city has not closed on the $55 million loan yet, but Bender said it is anticipated that the combined interest and fee rate will be 4.0% with a term of 20 years.  

“To take advantage of the low rate, the City applied very early in the project stages with information available, which led to the estimate of $97.7 million,” Bender said. “After final design, the City needed an additional $55 million to completely fund the project.”