Previous surveys of wells in this area by the Arkansas Health Department showed 100 percent of them to contain unsafe drinking water. As a result, many households used springs, brought their water in from another source or used an unregulated source for their water needs.

The funding, split $514,800 and $936,600 in loans and grants, respectively, will be awarded to the West Stone County Water Association from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Services office and will bring clean, safe drinking water to more than 300 households in the area.

“Providing potable water for rural citizens has been a focus of mine since I took office,” Berry said. “Rural communities are the backbone of America. We must ensure the needed infrastructure is in place to support the healthy economic growth and development we continually seek to create. This grant is the next step of many to keep our rural communities strong, healthy and successful.”

Representative Berry has made bringing potable water to rural communities a benchmark of his public service.