State guide
Arkansas
Arkansas’s drinking water program is run by the Arkansas Department of Health, and its drinking-water pages specifically list a statewide Lead & Copper contact within plan review. On the utility pages I found for Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Fort Smith, homeowner responsibility generally starts at or after the meter/private service line, while the utility keeps responsibility for mains, meters, and other public-side facilities.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who usually owns the water service line
- On the Arkansas utility pages found, utilities usually keep the main, meter, meter box, and other public facilities, while homeowner responsibility begins at the outlet side of the meter or on the private line between the meter and the structure.
- State drinking water program
- Arkansas Department of Health
- Permits for repair or replacement
- ADH licenses Water and Sewer Service Line Installation work; homeowner repair permitting appears to be handled through local plumbing permitting, so residents should verify local permit requirements before excavation or replacement.
- Assistance programs
- No statewide private water-line replacement assistance page was found; Fort Smith offers private service line material verification help, and Fort Smith also lists separate utility-bill assistance for eligible households.
Official resources in Arkansas
Shows statewide Lead & Copper staff within the drinking water program.
Explains what Central Arkansas Water maintains and where customer plumbing responsibility begins.
City lead-service-line inventory page with water and sewer contact information.
Explains Fort Smith’s private service line definition, self-reporting, and verification help.
Key facts for Arkansas
- ADH’s drinking water plan review page lists Lead & Copper as a statewide function under Drinking Water Plan Review.
- ADH’s plumbing page includes licensure for Water and Sewer Service Line Installation.
- Central Arkansas Water says it maintains mains, valves, hydrants, services, valve boxes, meter boxes and water meters.
- Central Arkansas Water says leaks from the meter tailpiece connection into the structure are plumbing and not maintained by CAW.
- Fort Smith defines a private service line as the water line between the structure and the water meter.
- Fayetteville says a moving meter after the house valve is shut can indicate a leak in the yard line.
Utility water service line rules in Arkansas
| Utility | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Department of Health — Engineering Pulaski | Little Rock | Not published* | State engineering contact listed on ADH’s contact page; ADH’s drinking water pages route Lead & Copper through this program area. |
| Central Arkansas Water Customer Service Pulaski | Little Rock | 501.372.5161 | Answers responsibility questions and water-service issues; CAW FAQ explains public versus plumbing responsibility. |
| Central Arkansas Water Emergency Pulaski | Little Rock | 501.377.1239 | Emergency number listed on CAW distribution page. |
| City of Fayetteville Water and Sewer Services Washington | Fayetteville | 479-575-8386 | Water service line inventory contact during business hours. |
| City of Fayetteville Water and Sewer Services (after hours) Washington | Fayetteville | 479-587-3555 | After-hours phone listed on the city’s water service line inventory page. |
| Fayetteville Call Center Washington | Fayetteville | 479-521-7700 | Call for emergency turnoff; leak-check page warns not to use the meter-box valve. |
| City of Fort Smith Water Utilities — Lead and Copper Rule Sebastian | Fort Smith | Not published* | Contact for Fort Smith lead and copper notices, self-reporting, and private service line verification help. |
| City of Fort Smith Citizen Services Sebastian | Fort Smith | Not published* | Handles utility billing questions and can connect residents to utility assistance programs. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Ask your utility whether your problem is on the public side, meter box, or private side before hiring a plumber.
- If your home is in Fort Smith and your private line material is unknown, use the city’s self-report or PSL verification process.
- Before replacing a line, confirm local plumbing permit and licensed installer requirements through your city and ADH plumbing rules.
Not seeing your utility or county?
We list a utility only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Arkansas, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Arkansas's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Tulsa Water & Sewer, Oklahoma · about 188 miles
- City of Tulsa Water & Sewer Department, Oklahoma · about 188 miles
- City of Shreveport Department of Water and Sewerage, Louisiana · about 199 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.City of Fayetteville — Water Service Line Inventory Program
Website →Phone: (479) 575-8386 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Arkansas page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- Who is responsible for the water line to your house?
- The curb stop, meter and property line, explained
- Water line leak in your yard: what to do
- Water service line replacement costs
Water line responsibility check →