The Central Arkansas Water board of commissioners approved a $3.3 million contract Thursday to extend water service into part of western Pulaski County, marking the latest step in bringing municipal water to the Ferndale community.
This phase of the project will lay 3.5 miles of new water lines, mainly along Ferndale Cutoff Road between Kanis Road and Studer Road. That stretch will tie into infrastructure installed in earlier phases, gradually building out access for an area that has long relied on private wells. Until now, residents in Ferndale have had to maintain their own water sources, which can be inconsistent or vulnerable to contamination.
Diamond Construction Co. was selected to handle the work after submitting the lowest responsive bid among four companies. Two of the bids were deemed non-responsive, according to board documents. The contract was approved alongside two other items during a unanimous voice vote.
Ferndale is an unincorporated area in western Pulaski County, just east of the Saline County line and south of Interstate 40. While not within city limits, it’s close enough to Little Rock that some residents commute daily. But without city services like water and sewer, development has been limited and living conditions can vary widely.
Bringing consistent, regulated water service to the area is expected to improve quality of life and could open the door for future residential and commercial growth. It also reduces health risks tied to aging well systems and gives homeowners more reliable access to water during dry seasons or equipment failures.
The project is being funded through Central Arkansas Water’s capital improvement program. The utility, based in Little Rock, serves about 400,000 people across Pulaski, Saline, and Lonoke counties. Past phases of the Ferndale expansion have already brought water lines closer to the community’s center, but this latest push connects key roads and sets up further extension down the line.
Local officials in nearby towns like Shannon Hills and Benton have expressed cautious optimism about the expansion, noting that improved infrastructure could ease pressure on their own utilities as the region continues to grow. Western Pulaski County has seen modest but steady development over the past decade, driven by its proximity to Little Rock and relatively affordable land.
Central Arkansas Water plans to hold a public meeting later this summer to outline the next steps in the Ferndale project. Residents are expected to be updated on construction timelines and potential service connection fees once the current phase is underway.
For now, those living in the targeted service area will need to wait until lines are in place before they can sign up for municipal water. Until then, most households continue to depend on wells, some of which are decades old and not regularly tested.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
