Developers plans could put water supply in jeopardy

A state senate committee approved a bill on Wednesday that could open the door for developers to build on property near Lake Maumelle. The lake supplies water to 360,00 Central Arkansas Water customers in Little Rock and surrounding cities. The plan from Deltic Timber calls for almost 300 luxury homes on a site close to the water intake area. Water company experts say that would make it easy for dangerous chemicals running off from the homes to make it into the water supply. In a letter dated October 8, 2004, Central Arkansas Water offered to help Deltic build the homes in an area farther away from the water source, meaning less of a chance of contamination. During the committee hearing, the mayors fom Little Rock and North Little Rock spoke out against the plan, along with representatives from the Arkansas Sierra Club, and League of Women Voters. One woman who heard about the bill through the media showed up to speak on behalf of concerned residents. State Senator Bob Johnson of Bigelow sponsored the legislation. He says the proposed development from Diltic Timber would not create problems with water quality. The senate committee approved the bill, so it now goes to a full Senate vote before going onto the House. Central Arkansas Water officials say they`ll do everything in their power to make sure the bill does not pass. They say they created Lake Maumelle as a water source, not for development.