Ozark Point Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation and Improvements

The Central Arkansas Water (CAW) utility serves nearly 500,000 people across eight counties, providing safe and reliable water to 145,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and master-metered customers. As a long-time partner in the Mid-Arkansas Water Alliance, CAW is committed to securing resilient water resources for a region of more than 750,000 people. One of the utility’s oldest and most critical assets, the Ozark Point Water Treatment Plant (WTP), sits in Little Rock’s historic Hillcrest neighborhood and has been part of the community fabric since the 1880s. While the plant’s legacy runs deep, by 2016 its aging infrastructure and outdated processes limited its ability to consistently meet state optimization goals for turbidity, disinfection byproducts, and other water-quality parameters.

To safeguard public health and prepare for growing demand, CAW undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Ozark Point WTP. In 2018, the utility partnered with Carollo to evaluate, prioritize, and design improvements. Leveraging advanced tools, such as computational fluid dynamics modeling, petrographic concrete analysis, and pilot testing, the project team identified cost-effective strategies that maximized the use of existing infrastructure while preparing the plant for future expansion from its current 24-mgd capacity to 32 mgd.

Key improvements included new flash-mix and flocculation/sedimentation systems designed to improve flow distribution, sludge removal, and chemical dosing; modernization of the plant’s 12 filters with innovative rinse-to-waste backwash sequencing that reduces turbidity spikes without additional equipment; structural and architectural rehabilitation of the historic filter building with ADA upgrades; and installation of 60 kW of solar arrays, new electrical buildings, and emergency power systems. To expedite construction, the project allowed seasonal plant shutdowns, enabling contractors to accelerate work during low-demand periods while CAW’s second treatment facility met community needs.

Completed in June 2021, the improvements have already enhanced filter performance, optimized treatment reliability, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions through on-site renewable power. Just as importantly, the project preserved the cultural and architectural character of a neighborhood landmark while extending the facility’s useful life by decades. With modernized processes, resilient infrastructure, and capacity for growth, the Ozark Point WTP is positioned to provide Central Arkansas with safe, reliable, and sustainable water for generations to come.