Central Arkansas Water Pump Station Project On Hold
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: July 24, 2012
A Central Arkansas Water project is on hold while engineers devise a new
site plan to fit building standards. In the meantime, Lake Maumelle
residents are accusing CAW of breaking environmental laws while pushing
new rules on property owners.
Attorneys for people living in the Lake Maumelle Watershed area showed pictures of alleged pollution, spurring a heavy debate at Tuesday's quorum court meeting.
One board member used a religious analogy, comparing it to a pastor, preaching against adultery and stealing while "sleeping with the church secretary and robbing the church blind."
Board members comments were sparked by the condition of a lot off Highway 10. A tenth of an acre is set to house a pump station extending service to Wye Mountain residents.
CAW hasn't even started constructing the pump and some community members are already calling foul.
"I live in that area, the land is pristine to me, it's going to stay that way. I want clean water, in order to do that people building need to follow the rules," said resident Lorrie White.
CAW pushed new rules, which are now on the books, to protect the watershed, requiring property owners like White to adhere to erosion protection and new construction standards.
But an April 25th inspection by Arkansas' Department of Environmental Quality found CAW failed to clean up a small oil spill in a timely manner and allowed concrete to wash out and pollute the surrounding area.
"It is a double standard in my eyes, I would prefer they do the right thing," said White.
A spokesperson for ADEQ says CAW rectified the issues. The county's planning and development director says, because a proper plan for the pump station site has not been approved the project is on hold.
Judge Buddy Villines chalked the environmental violation complaint up to a mistake.
"I don't consider that a capital crime, unfortunately it happens so often in public and private. It has to be corrected and I think they've corrected it and it shouldn't happen again," he said.
Unsatisfied, White promises to keep pushing for more accountability.
"I would like a small investigation into what happened so it won't happen again," she said.
The project is on hold until CAW comes up with a plan that meets new standards to protect the watershed.
County officials say Central Arkansas Water has a proposal for more construction regulations for the watershed area coming down in the near future.
Attorneys for people living in the Lake Maumelle Watershed area showed pictures of alleged pollution, spurring a heavy debate at Tuesday's quorum court meeting.
One board member used a religious analogy, comparing it to a pastor, preaching against adultery and stealing while "sleeping with the church secretary and robbing the church blind."
Board members comments were sparked by the condition of a lot off Highway 10. A tenth of an acre is set to house a pump station extending service to Wye Mountain residents.
CAW hasn't even started constructing the pump and some community members are already calling foul.
"I live in that area, the land is pristine to me, it's going to stay that way. I want clean water, in order to do that people building need to follow the rules," said resident Lorrie White.
CAW pushed new rules, which are now on the books, to protect the watershed, requiring property owners like White to adhere to erosion protection and new construction standards.
But an April 25th inspection by Arkansas' Department of Environmental Quality found CAW failed to clean up a small oil spill in a timely manner and allowed concrete to wash out and pollute the surrounding area.
"It is a double standard in my eyes, I would prefer they do the right thing," said White.
A spokesperson for ADEQ says CAW rectified the issues. The county's planning and development director says, because a proper plan for the pump station site has not been approved the project is on hold.
Judge Buddy Villines chalked the environmental violation complaint up to a mistake.
"I don't consider that a capital crime, unfortunately it happens so often in public and private. It has to be corrected and I think they've corrected it and it shouldn't happen again," he said.
Unsatisfied, White promises to keep pushing for more accountability.
"I would like a small investigation into what happened so it won't happen again," she said.
The project is on hold until CAW comes up with a plan that meets new standards to protect the watershed.
County officials say Central Arkansas Water has a proposal for more construction regulations for the watershed area coming down in the near future.
