Conway’s main water source is Brewer Lake, a 28,500 acre-feet lake, located near Plumerville in Conway County. Brewer Lake is the main drinking water supply for approximately 70,000 residents in and around the city of Conway in Faulkner County as well as another 21,500 people in Conway and Perry Counties via the Conway County Regional Water Distribution District.

Source Water refers to sources of drinking water in its original environment, including rivers and lakes. Source water is the raw, untreated supply of water that is used for current or potential future drinking water. This water is used every day for a variety of purposes such as drinking, cooking and basic hygiene in addition to recreational, agricultural and industrial activities.

Source Water Protection is the proactive approach to safeguard, maintain or improve the quality and quantity of drinking water sources and their contributing areas. Minimizing potential risks and impacts to Brewer Lake is a key step in a multiple-barrier approach Conway Corp has to provide clean drinking water to the community.

Source Water Quality can be influenced by both natural and human activities. By preventing contaminants from entering public drinking water at the source, we can protect water quality for wildlife and recreational use as well as reduce water treatment costs and lessen the likelihood of having to seek alternate water sources.

Current source water protection efforts include:

• Partnerships with Black & Veatch and Woolpert to develop watershed management plan
• Partnership with University of Central Arkansas for continued water testing
• Partnership with Garver for continued water quality monitoring
• Partnership with United States Geological Survey for Cypress Creek stream monitoring station
• Partnership with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for boat ramp management
• Controlled burns and timber thinning
• Tree planting for sediment capture
• Watershed protection fee implemented in 2024