Little Rock (May 13, 2026) —A survey of Little Rock residents indicates they generally support the idea of reusing wastewater, especially for certain industrial or construction-related purposes, members of the Little Rock panel that oversees the local wastewater utility were told on Wednesday.

Four students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service – Luke Antesberger, Abbie Asher, Grace Maddox and Hunter Moffett – presented the findings of their research to the Water Reclamation Commission during a meeting.

Following treatment, wastewater and other sources of recycled water, such as stormwater, can be used for purposes such as industry and agricultural irrigation, according to WateReuse, a trade association.

States like Arizona and Nevada recycle large percentages of their wastewater, the researchers told the commission, but Arkansas currently does not recycle any wastewater.

The students collected survey responses from 103 Little Rock residents in February and spoke with nine participants across three focus groups about wastewater reuse and the role of the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority.

Most weren’t familiar with wastewater reuse, but 80% said they supported the practice in Little Rock compared with the 13% who expressed neither support nor opposition and the 7% who said they opposed it.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents correctly identified the role of the Water Reclamation Authority. The same share said they trusted the utility’s management of wastewater while 30% said they neither trusted or distrusted it.

The students acknowledged the limitations of the survey. It attracted fewer respondents than they had hoped, and the sample skewed more white and highly educated than Little Rock’s overall population, they said.

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners voted to proceed with issuing up to $82 million in revenue bonds to fund capital projects and to allow the utility to be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred before the bonds are issued.

Planned capital projects in 2026 and 2027 are expected to require approximately $22 million this year and $60 million next year to supplement existing bond proceeds and cash.

Doug Roe, the utility’s director of accounting and finance, told commissioners that one of the most important projects over the next two years is a planned sludge transfer and pump station at the Adams Field Water Reclamation Facility.

The bonds are expected to close in August after receiving the approval of officials at the city of Little Rock.

This story was originally posted in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.