Arkansas Code Title 18. Property § 18-15-601. Authorization

(a) All municipal corporations in this state and all corporations, including not-for-profit corporations and water associations, which supply any town, city, or village in this state, or the inhabitants thereof, with water, or which supply water to rural customers or consumers, are authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain to condemn, take, and use private property for the use of the corporations when necessary to carry out the purposes and objects of the corporations including, without limitation, the condemnation of easements in which water transmission or water distribution lines shall be constructed and located and the condemnation of real property for the construction and location of water storage tanks, water treatment facilities, master metering facilities, pump stations, and other necessary appurtenances needed for water production, transmission, and distribution, regardless of whether or not the private property is located within or outside of the boundaries of the city, town, or village which the municipal or other corporation, including not-for-profit corporations and water associations, serves.

(b) Whenever the municipal or other corporation, including not-for-profit corporations and water associations, in the construction of its waterworks, or in enlarging or extending the waterworks, or water distribution or water transmission lines, shall deem it desirable to condemn, take, use, or occupy private property in the construction of its water treatment or storage facilities, water transmission or distribution lines, or other appurtenances thereto, the corporation may condemn, take, and use the private property, first making just compensation therefor, and proceed as provided in this subchapter.

(c) The corporations and water associations shall exercise the powers of eminent domain only as a last resort, and they shall make use of existing easements and rights-of-way to the extent practicable.

(d) No municipal or other corporation, including not-for-profit corporations and water associations, exercising eminent domain powers under this subchapter shall provide water service to any existing customer of any incorporated city or town absent the express written approval of the incorporated city or town.