
The initial exploration wells drilled at the Franklin County location, where the state intends to build a 3,000-bed correctional facility, may lack the necessary water supply to function effectively.
Two test wells drilled on August 1 to assess the groundwater supply for the planned prison produced disappointing outcomes, with the more successful one providing only two gallons per minute, as stated in reports from the Department of Agriculture Well Water Commission.
Subscribe to Our NewslettersThat sum would be seen as insufficient for a single residence, which needs a water flow of approximately six to 12 gallons per minute, let alone a 3,000-bed correctional facility.
It would have been great if they had considered these issues a year ago and saved everyone a lot of time and money," said Adam Watson, director of Gravel & Grit, an organization opposing the Franklin County prison. "All this time, trouble, and stress could have been avoided by doing things properly — engaging the community from the beginning and completing the state's research. The fundamentals have completely failed here.
Since the cities of Fort Smith and Ozark have stated they are unable to provide water for the prison, the project depends on improved results from test wells. Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness is optimistic that additional drilling might locate the necessary water supply.
"The test wells we conducted didn't yield the water we were hoping for, especially considering the depth of the drilling we performed," Magness said. "At some point, we might need to go back to a well, and if we do, it will have to be drilled deeper," Magness told our ABC affiliate in Little Rock.
Magness admitted that if the required water is not available on the site, the state might need to search other locations.
Although there has been debate regarding the Franklin County prison initiative, it is undeniable thatjail and prison overpopulation in Arkansasis a problem that requires additional beds in the near future. Numerous institutions across the state are operating at or beyond their limits, and there is frequently no place to house less severe offenders following their arrest.
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READ THE FULL STORY:A proposed prison location in Franklin County might not have sufficient water supply.