Customers of the Northeast Public Water Authority (NPWA) will see changes to their water rates on October bills following an increase in wholesale costs and a state-required rate study.
The NPWA, which services rural and residential areas northeast of Mountain Home in Baxter County—including properties near Lake Norfork and along various highways and county roads—was informed on August 12 that the City of Mountain Home would raise the cost of wholesale potable water by 25%. The authority sources its water from the Mountain Home Water Department.
In addition to this increase, the NPWA recently received the results of a water rate study prepared by the Arkansas Rural Water Association. The study is mandated by Arkansas Act 605 of 2021, which requires water utilities to evaluate their rates periodically.
The NPWA Board of Directors is currently reviewing the rate study and the impact of higher wholesale costs to finalize necessary adjustments to customer rates. While the exact amount each customer will pay has not yet been announced, the authority noted that any changes will be reflected on October water bills.
Once the new rates are established, customers will be notified via the NPWA website at npwa.ruralwaterusa.com. Customers seeking additional information or clarification are encouraged to contact the authority directly at (870) 492-4211.