A Brief History of Gravette’s Sewage Treatment Systems

— The evolution of Gravette’s wastewater treatment system dates to 1949 when engineers McGoodwin, Williams and Yates were hired to plan a sewer system for the city.

Until that time most residences were equipped with septic “tanks” which had replaced the “pools and paths” (cesspools and outdoor toilets) that were the norm in rural areas and small towns.

In February 1950, Gravette citizens voted 192-31 to finance a citysewage disposal system through issuance of $13,500 in bonds. A like amount was approved in that election to make improvements to the city water system.

The initial Gravette system went online November 4 of that year when the first six residences were hooked onto the lines.

Fast forward to 1975 when initial discussion was held to construct a new system because the existing old system failed to meet state dischargestandards.

After local Council members and others, together with engineers McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, visited a lagoon system in Jenks, OK, the decision was made to model Gravette’s system after that operation.

Financing was secured with a $1,495,924 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. Plans progressed to finance the project through loans at 5% interest rate.

The dramatic increasein interest rates in that era wrecked havoc with the project. Finally in 1982 when bids on the project were accepted a loan in the amount of $550,000 at 11 3/8% interest was secured from Farmers Home Administration and a $100,000 “soft” loan from the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation.

The proposed new or upgraded disposal system is explained in a story on page 1A of this issue of The News Herald.

News, Pages 7 on 03/03/2010