It’s Still About Water
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Brown water, water leaks and water bill complaints.
Water issues in Opelousas are seemingly unending and there is no indication that those related problems will abate soon, according to discussions at Board of Aldermen meetings.
About the only good news for Opelousas city water was contained in the June municipal budget summary provided to the Board during the July meeting.
The city,it was noted, collected $948,359 in June water bill-related revenue. That amount provided a $406,653 water department profit for the month.
Sewer revenue also exceeded expenses for a $42,870 departmental profit.
Customer Questions Water Bill
City water customer Veronica Ward is debating recent costs for her monthly water billing, which she said in one recent month reached $400.
That bill was similar to others that Ward said she has been asked to pay over the last several months.
Ward told Public Works Director Travis Van Wright at the July Board of Alderman meeting that a house she owns on Sapphire Street could have a small water leak, but a plumber’s inspection noted that size of the leak wasn’t enough to contribute to her high bills.
Alderman-at-large Marvin Richard said he has been in contact with Ward about her high bills and other bills that Richard said have caused other customer complaints.
Van Wright said the city has experienced problems over the past several months with the billing process, but he also denied that the city is responsible for the high water costs experienced by Ward.
“The leak is underneath the slab,” said Van Wright.
Richard said the plumber Ward hired to examine the problem said there is no leak on the property.
“It’s a city problem,” said Richard, who said high water bills like those affecting Ward and other city customers has placed an unnecessary burden on city residents who can’t afford to pay for water leaks that might be attributed to antiquated pipes that Van Wright and his crews are attempting to maintain.
Overall rates for water usage have increased citywide, as Opelousas attempts to pay for a new water plant and replace several water storage facilities.
The Brown Water
Van Wright indicated in his monthly report that there will be traces of rust-colored water pouring out of pipes until all the water leaks are fixed.
“Brown water is going to appear until the whole system is updated,” Van Wright pointed out.
In a series of previous responses, city engineer William Jarrell III said that brown-tinted water can be traced to pipes that are rusted due to age.
Paul Gennuso said he has seen brown water fly out of hydrants because they are being held wide open as the hydrants are flushed.
Van Wright said Public Works is aware of the brown water issues, but addressing the problem requires obtaining parts, whose deliveries are sometimes delayed.
Fixing The Problem
Jarrell said during his monthly report that an initial sewer rehabilitation project is ongoing, but rains have slowed down the work process.
Design phases for the Opelousas water plant and a ground storage facility have been submitted to state officials for review. Progress on the projects can’t proceed until the designs are approved, Jarrell pointed out.
Van Wright said repairing routine water leaks has been ongoing, but sometimes scheduled work is delayed when emergencies require his crews to respond immediately.
