Arkansas’ Water is Second to None

It is no coincidence that Arkansas is nicknamed “The Natural State.” From the mountains reaching up to kiss the sky to the lush valleys filled with nature’s bounty of crops, Arkansas boasts some of the best outdoor life from the Ozarks in the northwest to the Delta in the southeast.

Arkansas is home to more than 137,000 miles of streams, rivers, springs and creeks as well as over 600,000 acres of lakes. Surface water sources currently supply 34 percent of the state’s drinking water to 93 percent of Arkansans. Each day, Arkansans use over 3.9 billion gallons of surface water per day.

So, it makes perfect sense that The Natural State also boasts some of the best drinking water.

City Corporation water in Russellville won the People’s Choice Award for Best Tasting Water in the nation at the annual American Waterworks Association National Conference and Exposition held in Washington, D.C. The “People’s Choice” is a blind taste test, and City Corporation is the only water utility company in the nation to win the award twice (in 2016 and in 2026). Russellville gets most of its drinking water from the Huckleberry Creek Reservoir, a watershed supplemented by pumping water from the Illinois Bayou.

“We are extremely proud of winning this award not once but twice in a span of 10 years,” said City Corporation CEO Steve Mallett. “This is a testament to all the hard work and dedication of our staff at City Corporation staff and we couldn't have achieved this without the support of our customers, board members and city councils, past and present!" 

Nipping on Russellville’s heels in Central Arkansas Water, which has been named among the top five best tasting water by the same organization. CAW has also been recognized by Forbes magazine where it won second-best water in the nation. CAW water is sourced from Lake Maumelle and Lake Winona.

“CAW is proud to be recognized again nationally for what our customers already know,” Tad Bohannon, CAW CEO, said. “We have some of the best tasting, most affordable water in the country. We consistently demonstrate our commitment to great water, and other utilities look to us as a model for best watershed protection and water treatment practices.”

And, in 2023, Texarkana U.S.A. won best-tasting water in Arkansas by the Arkansas Water Works & Water Environment Association. Texarkana Water Utilities provides drinking water on both sides of the border to Texas as well as Arkansas and is sourced from Lake Millwood in Arkansas and Lake Wright Patman in Texas.

“I haven’t drank all over the state, but I guarantee it’s good water,” customer Toney Buckley said. “I like it. It’s very good water.”

Even tiny Yorktown Water Association, in between the Arkansas Delta and the Arkansas Timberlands in Lincoln County, has made a splash in the competition. Yorktown was found to have had the best-tasting water in the Arkansas Rural Water Association’s annual Great Arkansas Water Taste Test.

Other Arkansas cities renowned for quality drinking water are Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers.

Since taking office, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has prioritized strengthening Arkansas’ water infrastructure in every corner of the state, with nearly $2.8 billion in state and federal funds approved for water projects across all 75 counties. The Arkansas Legislature passed Act 578 of 2025, which will place the question of authorizing an additional $500 million in general obligation bond authority on the November 2026 general election ballot.

“Arkansas is growing at a record pace, and our infrastructure must grow with it,” said Governor Sanders. “That’s why my administration is investing in water projects across the state, building on the more than $2.7 billion we’ve already committed to strengthen water and wastewater systems, support continued economic growth, and ensure every Arkansan has access to safe, reliable water service.”

If you prefer your water from a bottle, Arkansas is also home to several manufacturers including Nestle Pure Life Purified Water, Dasani Purified Water and Mountain Valley Spring Water – naturally spring-fed Arkansas water.