Saint Charles Parish wastewater department details plant upgrades, lift‑station projects and force‑main work
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Summary
The parish wastewater representative updated the council on system assets, a FEMA/BRIC‑funded Deshraham plant reconstruction, a planned $14 million Hornville plant conversion to membrane bioreactor (MBR), and multiple lift‑station and force‑main projects aimed at reducing backups and improving capacity.
David DeGeneres, representing the parish wastewater department, presented an operational report and a multi‑year project plan to the Saint Charles Parish Council on Nov. 3.
DeGeneres said the department maintains more than 211 miles of gravity lines, 119 miles of force mains, over 4,300 manholes and 208 lift stations. He reported the Deshraham treatment plant rebuild is about 50% complete and funded in part by FEMA BRIC/PA recovery money, and that the project includes energy‑efficient blowers and aeration changes.
The Hornville plant is the subject of a planned conversion from an activated sludge process to a membrane bioreactor (MBR) with an estimated design cost of $14,000,000, DeGeneres said. He said the upgraded Hornville plant will increase permitted capacity (current design 3.2 million gallons per day) to about 3.3 million with the ability to expand in a later phase; the alternative pond option had been estimated near $26,000,000.
DeGeneres described operational work completed in 2025 (lift‑station rebuilds, in‑house pump repairs, and multiple station rehabs) and listed near‑term capital projects including Norco lift‑station rehabilitation, Kennel Lift Station bidding, Saint Rose force main installation and the Turtle Pond force‑main and lift‑station work to relieve capacity constraints in the Saint Rose/River Road/Airline areas.
Council members asked for clarifications on how proposed collection splits would route flow from Airline and River Road areas and on construction timelines for the Candler lift station; DeGeneres said the Candler pre‑bid meeting was scheduled and construction likely would start early next year with roughly 100–180 days of construction time depending on contractor performance. He also confirmed GIS mapping of sewer assets exists and is accessible to council staff.
DeGeneres said operator certification levels are a statutory requirement in Louisiana and described current staff licensing (multiple Class 4 operators among 70 employees). He concluded by inviting further questions and offering to provide additional project details.
