EPA Announces $12 Million for Fort Smith, Arkansas, Water Projects
DALLAS, TEXAS (November 12, 2026) – U.S Environmental Protection Agency officials, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), and the City of Fort Smith recently announced $12 million in funding for water infrastructure improvements to the Fort Smith area of Arkansas. This funding will help replace aging infrastructure and ensure the effectiveness of the municipal water supply for the Fort Smith metropolitan area.
“Reliable water infrastructure is foundational for families, businesses, and communities to prosper and grow,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason. “By working with the City of Fort Smith and Senator Boozman, we are ensuring the Fort Smith residents will receive clean water for decades to come. This announcement would not have been possible without Senator Boozman’s work on behalf of the City of Fort Smith.”
“Access to clean, reliable water is essential to protecting public health, improving quality of life and supporting economic growth. This investment will help meet the community’s growing water needs and help ensure Fort Smith is well-positioned for future growth. Water infrastructure underpins our quality of life and economic opportunity, and I am proud to work with local, state and federal partners to strengthen it,” said Senator John Boozman (R-AR).
“Water is essential to everything we do, from taking care of our families to growing our businesses and welcoming new opportunities to Fort Smith. This investment will help us build a more reliable water system for our community and the communities across the River Valley that depend on it. I want to thank Senator Boozman and the EPA for partnering with us to make this project possible. We are River Valley Strong, and this is another example of what we can accomplish when we work together,” said Fort Smith Mayor George McGill.
The focus on this project is to strengthen the reliability of Fort Smith’s water system for decades. Specifically, this project will install approximately three miles of 48-inch-diameter raw water pipeline from Crawford County to the City of Fort Smith. This project supports the broader need for continued water supply reliability in western Arkansas.
Aging water transmission infrastructure creates risk of service disruption and threatens the reliability of the municipal drinking water supply for Fort Smith and surrounding areas. The project is intended to support EPA’s goal of ensuring clean and safe water for all communities.
This significant funding serves as both an investment for Fort Smith and an example of cooperative federalism in action. Fort Smith will receive the $12 million in funding once all their administrative obligations have been completed. This funding comes from Congressional Directed Spending (CDS).
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