Bill > SB556

This bill adds a new section to Arkansas state law that prohibits the surface discharge of wastewater into a watershed upstream of public drinking water sources. Specifically, the legislation prevents any person or entity from releasing wastewater into a water body at any point before a public water system's water intake point. The bill includes two important exceptions: discharges permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater discharge program and the state's equivalent stormwater discharge program are still allowed. The Division of Environmental Quality will be responsible for enforcing this new regulation. This measure is designed to protect public drinking water sources from potential contamination by preventing direct wastewater discharge into watersheds that supply drinking water to communities, thereby helping to ensure the safety and quality of public water supplies.

Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb556&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R