What does Beaver Water District do?

Beaver Water District supplies drinking water to more than 250,000 people and industries in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and surrounding areas. These cities then resell the water to surrounding towns and communities. The District’s mission is to serve our customers in the Benton and Washington County area by providing high quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all federal and state regulatory requirements in such quantities as meets their demands and is economically priced consistent with our quality standards.

Why does Beaver Water District spend money on public awareness and education?

We feel there is value to our customers being aware of the reliability and safety of the tap water we deliver. The more they know the better they can partner with us in using this resource wisely.

What about scholarships?

The Joe M. Steele and Hardy W. Croxton Memorial Scholarship Fund is funded through voluntary contributions by Beaver Water District Board members and other interested individuals and organizations. The fund is named for the late Joe M. Steele and the late Hardy W. Croxton, leaders and past Board members. The Memorial Scholarship Fund provides support to a graduate from the Bentonville, Elkins, Farmington, Fayetteville, Greenland, Rogers, Springdale, or West Fork school districts pursuing post-secondary education in Arkansas. For more information on this $3,000 renewable scholarship, contact the scholarship coordinator at the schools mentioned above, or contact Pearl McElfish at Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation, 479-361-4624, or email pearl@nwacf.org. For information about other scholarships related to the business of water, visit AWW&WEA at http://www.awwwea.org/ and Southwest Section AWWA at http://www.swawwa.org/.

Should I be concerned about pharmaceuticals in my tap water?

Beaver Water District is committed to protecting public health, and we believe the cost-effective way to ensure safe water at the tap is to keep Beaver Lake clean. To date, there are no scientific studies indicating that the trace levels detected in some supplies are a health concern. While pharmaceutical compounds are being found at very low levels in many of our nation’s lakes, there have not been any studies on Beaver Lake.

Why does Beaver Water District add fluoride to tap water?

At the request of its customers, the District adds fluoride to its drinking water at 1 mg/l, which is the recommended level for our region of the country. The Centers for Disease Control recommends community water fluoridation as a safe way to prevent tooth decay among populations living in areas with adequate community water supply systems.

Why does the water have taste and odor sometimes?

In the summertime, conditions in Beaver lake promote more rapid growth of algae. Algae can give off smelly chemicals that can cause unpleasant tastes in drinking water. In early fall, the lake also experiences “turnover,” which simply means that the water in the lake is mixed from top to bottom. When this happens, compounds rise from the bottom of the lake to the top, which frequently leads to taste and odor problems, as well. However, it’s important to remember that the water remains safe to drink.


What’s the difference between tap water and bottled water?

Tap water is safe, it costs less, and it is delivered to your house in the quantity you desire and at an adequate pressure. Bottled water is a convenience, and for some people, there is a perceived quality issue. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates tap water, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water. Bottled water is considered a packaged food product. The FDA requires bottled water quality standards to be equal to EPA standards for tap water. Any bottled water that contains contaminants in excess of the allowable level is mislabeled unless it has a statement of substandard quality. The website www.thegreenguide.org reports that about one fourth of bottled water is bottled tap water, some of which has been additionally treated.