Fort Smith sits where the Arkansas River meets the Oklahoma border — and its drinking water reflects decades of military activity, industrial discharge, and growing drought vulnerability. Arkansas’ second-largest city has water issues that don’t get much national attention, but they matter to the people living here.
Where Fort Smith Gets Its Water
The Fort Smith Water Utilities Department serves approximately 90,000 people in the city and surrounding Sebastian County. The primary drinking water source is Lee Creek Reservoir, a surface water impoundment about 30 miles east of the city in the Ozark Mountains. The utility also uses Lake Fort Smith as a supplemental source.
These reservoirs draw from relatively undeveloped watersheds in the Ozarks, which generally provides higher-quality source water than a river intake in an urban or industrial area. Treatment includes conventional filtration and disinfection.
The Arkansas River flows through Fort Smith but doesn’t serve as the city’s primary drinking water source — which is good news, because the river carries significant upstream impacts by the time it reaches this part of the state.
Fort Chaffee and PFAS
Fort Chaffee — formerly Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center — is a decommissioned military installation adjacent to Fort Smith. The base was active from 1941 through 1997 and was used to house refugees from Vietnam and Cuba, train troops, and conduct military exercises.
Like military installations across the country, Fort Chaffee used AFFF for firefighting training. That foam contained PFAS, and those forever chemicals have been detected in soil and groundwater at the former base.
The Department of Defense has conducted PFAS investigation at Fort Chaffee as part of its nationwide assessment of former military sites. Groundwater monitoring has shown PFAS detections, and the extent of the contamination plume is still being defined. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: specific PFAS concentrations at Fort Chaffee and current DOD remediation timeline]
Much of the former base has been redeveloped by the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, with residential, commercial, and industrial uses on former military land. Residents and businesses in the redevelopment area need to be aware of the PFAS contamination history, especially if they use private wells.
Fort Smith’s municipal water comes from Lee Creek and Lake Fort Smith — not from groundwater near the base — but PFAS migration through groundwater and into surface water features is a legitimate long-term concern.
Industrial Discharges and the Arkansas River
The Arkansas River through Fort Smith has received industrial discharges for decades. Poultry processing, manufacturing, and other industrial operations in the region have held NPDES permits for wastewater discharge. Some of these operations have had compliance issues documented in EPA’s ECHO database. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: current major NPDES permit holders and compliance status in the Fort Smith area]
Upstream impacts also matter. The Arkansas River flows from Colorado through Kansas and Oklahoma before entering Arkansas at Fort Smith. By then, it’s accumulated agricultural runoff, municipal wastewater, and industrial discharge from hundreds of miles of watershed.
While the river isn’t Fort Smith’s primary drinking water source, it affects the area’s groundwater, recreational water quality, and ecology. Residents who fish in the Arkansas River should check the Arkansas Department of Health’s fish consumption advisories for mercury and other contaminants.
The poultry industry in northwestern Arkansas is a particularly significant source of nutrient loading in the region’s waterways. Phosphorus and nitrogen from poultry litter applied to agricultural land run off into streams and rivers, contributing to algal growth and water quality degradation downstream.
Drought Vulnerability
Arkansas doesn’t always come to mind when people think about drought, but the state has experienced significant drought periods that affect water supply and quality. Fort Smith’s reservoirs — Lee Creek and Lake Fort Smith — depend on adequate rainfall to maintain levels.
During drought:
- Reservoir levels drop, potentially affecting water supply adequacy
- Contaminant concentrations increase as the same pollutant load is diluted in less water
- Algal blooms become more likely in warmer, shallower water
- Treatment challenges increase as source water quality degrades
The 2012 drought was severe across Arkansas, and more recent dry periods have raised awareness about water security. Climate projections suggest the region may face more frequent and intense drought cycles. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: Fort Smith reservoir levels during recent drought events]
Fort Smith’s investment in dual reservoir sources provides some resilience, but extended drought could still strain the system.
Aging Infrastructure
Fort Smith’s water distribution system includes older pipes that need replacement. Main breaks, water loss from leaking pipes, and service disruptions are ongoing challenges for any city with aging infrastructure.
The city has been investing in water system upgrades, but like most municipalities, the cost of fully modernizing the distribution system runs into the hundreds of millions. Deferred maintenance catches up eventually — in the form of breaks, water quality complaints, and emergency repairs.
Lead service lines are less prevalent in Fort Smith than in older Northeastern and Midwestern cities, but homes built before 1986 may still have lead solder in their plumbing. The city’s Lead and Copper Rule compliance testing has generally shown results below the action level. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: Fort Smith’s most recent LCR 90th percentile results]
What the Data Shows
Fort Smith’s annual Consumer Confidence Reports typically show compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act standards. The Lee Creek source water is naturally high-quality for a surface water supply. Key parameters include:
- Disinfection byproducts — TTHMs and HAA5 present but managed below MCLs
- Turbidity — occasional spikes after heavy rain events as runoff enters reservoirs
- Nitrates — generally low, reflecting the relatively undeveloped watershed
- Lead and copper — below action levels with corrosion control treatment
- PFAS — testing results will be critical as federal MCLs take effect
The system’s reliance on protected Ozark watersheds gives it a natural advantage. The risks are more about what happens at the margins — PFAS from the military site, aging pipes in the distribution system, and drought stress on reservoir supply.
What Fort Smith Residents Should Do
Read your water quality report. Fort Smith Water Utilities publishes the annual CCR — review it for any contaminants detected in your water.
Test if you’re on a private well. This is critical if you live near Fort Chaffee or any former industrial site. Test for PFAS, bacteria, nitrates, and heavy metals. The Sebastian County Health Department can point you to certified labs.
Check your home’s plumbing. If your house was built before 1986, you may have lead solder in your pipes. Run cold water for 30 seconds to a minute before using it for drinking or cooking.
Consider point-of-use filtration. Even with good source water and compliant treatment, a final filter at your tap provides an extra layer of protection. Carbon block filters handle chlorine and organic compounds. Reverse osmosis provides comprehensive reduction including PFAS and disinfection byproducts.
Stay informed about drought. When reservoir levels are low, pay attention to conservation advisories and be aware that water quality parameters may shift.
Know the history of your property. If you’re in the Fort Chaffee redevelopment area, understand the PFAS contamination history and check whether your lot has been assessed for environmental contamination.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and advise on solutions.