Sheridan residents post pictures of their drinking water frequently on social media.
The yellow to brown water stains clothes, and some residents question its safety.
For years, customers of Sheridan Waterworks have posted about water discoloration on social media. But the problem is never fully solved, and the pictures keep coming.
This month, residents have begged for help about their water including asking if “anyone has called the Attorney General.”
Some have bought home test kits to try and figure out the problem.
Residents complain about the water ruining white clothes, comforters and sheets in the washing machine.
In a social media post from a year ago, a mother wrote that the water looked as if her baby was “bathing in urine.”
One resident on Facebook wrote that a monthly water bill was $70 with an additional $60 for sewer. The resident also buys bottled water for drinking, meaning more money spent on water.
Others claim the water is causing their skin to itch and break out in a rash.
A Rate Increase?
Sheridan is losing money on its city water system — Sheridan Waterworks.
At the September Sheridan City Council meeting, city leaders discussed a possible water and sewer rate increase.
Here's the city's proposed 2023 budget for the Water & Sewer Department.
It's worth noting the city appropriated $664,000 for capital improvements in its proposed budget for Parks & Recreation while the Water and Sewer Department anticipated spending approximately $142,000 for capital improvements and to pull and rebuild the Main Street well.
Sheridan has experienced rapid population growth since the passage of the Sheridan School District’s millage in 2016.
City leaders could possibly annex more of the county for subdivisions.
Zoning is already a serious problem with developers often ignoring ordinances.
Electric companies, too, are upgrading infrastructure throughout Sheridan and Grant County because of growth.
Then there are the water problems.
Before residents are asked to pay more for water, many want to know what is actually coming out of their faucets and why.
South Arkansas Reckoning reached out to Sheridan Mayor Cain Nattin via email for comment. At press time, he had not responded.
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