Chris Harris, deputy director of the Arkansas Rural Water Association, is no stranger to troubleshooting for municipal water systems in need of emergency help. But the failure of the West Helena water system this summer, which led to a shutdown, boil order advisory and 18-day battle to restore safe drinking water, stands out.
“This one was unique because of the snowball effect,” Harris said. “It’s not normally to this degree.”
The breakdown, which began in late June, was set in motion by a failure of men and machines. A valve that should have been replaced years ago failed at the West Helena water plant. That sent the long-neglected water system with its innumerable leaks beyond the tipping point.
The calamitous event is forcing the Helena-West Helena City Council to ramp up its attention and financial commitment to put the entire water system and its two treatment plants, in good working order. The work will require replacing, not temporarily fixing, foundational parts of the infrastructure.
Early estimates put the tab north of $10 million for the West Helena portion of the system alone. An engineering report is expected to produce firmer numbers with an itemized, prioritized to-do list in the next few weeks.
According to findings by the Arkansas Rural Water Association, the West Helena “treatment facility and wells had been running 24 hours a day/seven days a week for a long time” with leaks wasting millions of gallons of water.
Since water service was stabilized in mid-July, the treatment facility is producing at a rate of about 1,800 gallons per minute and only operating an average of 13-14 hours per day. That’s an 11-hour drop of run time that prevents nearly 1.2 million gallons per day in water loss, the water association said.
Water association staffers and a team of contractors repaired more than 110 leaks during the June 27-July 14 plumbing battle. Many more remain.
“According to the city, they’ve put up $200,000,” Harris said of paying contractors and more. An emergency state loan provided an additional $100,000.
In 2019, Helena-West Helena adopted a much-needed rate increase schedule to better care for its water system. But with a population that declined an estimated 38.5% between 2000 and 2021, the city will face fiscal challenges if overdue upgrades require more ratepayer support.
Priority Items
In its post-crisis assessment, the Arkansas Rural Water Association provided an overview of priority items that need attention to prevent future boil orders.
“West Helena’s treatment facility faces several critical issues that demand urgent attention. The primary concern lies with the antiquated main operating valves, which are on the verge of failure and could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the entire West Helena water system. Immediate action is necessary to replace these valves to avoid potential disaster.
“Additionally, the filters’ media in the remaining three units has significantly exceeded its shelf life, rendering them ineffective in adequately filtering water materials. A replenishment of media is essential to ensure the water treatment process meets safety standards.”
Harris said replacement of the filter material — a mix of gravel, sand and coal — and four significant valves in the treatment plant will take place after Labor Day. New electronic-actuated valves will replace outdated models from half a century ago.
“From there, there are still a lot of leaks to fix,” Harris said. “They’re still losing nearly 1,000 gallons of water a minute.
“For the next three weeks, we’ll be back over there trying to help them locate some of those leaks and make sure the treatment plant is keeping up with the demand for water.”
Other important items in need of municipal attention and investment include the West Helena water plant building itself and staff training.
“The treatment plant’s electrical and pneumatic systems are aging and prone to frequent breakdowns,” the water association assessment said. “To ensure consistent and reliable operation, comprehensive repairs and updates are imperative. The deteriorating roof poses yet another pressing issue, allowing rainwater infiltration and causing facility-wide degradation. Urgent repair or replacement of the roof is vital to safeguard the treatment plant’s infrastructure and prevent further damage.
“All four wells have experienced a decline in yield over the years, several of which are approaching 50 years in age. A new well site needs to be selected and an additional well needs to be added to assist in becoming a sustainable water utility.
“One concerning issue that was identified at the West Helena Water system was the lack of an adequate number of staff, particularly no licensed trained professionals. Experienced licensed operators possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to monitor and control the treatment process and to ensure all quality standards are met.
“This shortage of personnel can prove to have severe consequences on the treatment and maintenance of the water treatment and distribution system within the community. A large percentage of the employed personnel in West Helena have less than 3-5 years in the industry. This lack of experience has proven to be challenging.”
According to the ARWA, the pipe network in the water system is in dire need of replacement, too.
“The prevalence of the leaks in the distribution system is escalating daily, making it exceptionally difficult to manage and leaving communities at risk of water supply disruptions. This system will remain in critical condition and on life support until the majority of the distribution system is replaced.
“A comprehensive plan to modernize and replace the aging infrastructure is essential to ensure a reliable and safe water distribution network for the residents of West Helena.”
While the work to stabilize the West Helena water system continues, the other half of the combined city’s water system looms large.
“Helena is in the same shape and living on life support,” Harris said.
