Forests and Source Water Protection

Bob Morgan, PhDManager of Environmental Quality

SW Section AWWA, 2016

• Regional Water Provider– Bentonville– Rogers– Springdale– Fayetteville

• 47 Million Gallons/Day• > 330,000 Customers• Source; Beaver Lake

Beaver Water District

Mission

To serve our customers’ needs by providing high quality water that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements, and is economically priced consistent with our quality standards.

• High quality source• Source water protection• Emergency response• Optimized treatment

• Distribution system management

• Water quality monitoring• Educated consumers

Multiple Barriers to Protect Drinking Water

Maintain, safeguard, and/or improve the quality of a given sourceAWWA G‐300 Source Water Protection

• Greater public health• Response to uncertainties• Avoiding costs• Improved compliance• Customer expectations• Bond rating• Funding opportunities

Source Water Protection

Beaver Lake Watershed

Benefit of Forests

Implementing SWP is a Good Value• The net present value is $125 million

• The benefit‐cost ratio is 1.4

• The internal rate of return is 18%

Cadmus study 2016

Forest Importance to Drinking Water

US Forest ServiceForests to Faucets

Index of Forest Importance to Drinking Water