Livingston Parish committee flags failing water systems, discusses parishwide water plan

At a Jan. 5 meeting of the Livingston Parish Master Plan Review Committee, members raised alarm about low grades for local drinking-water systems and introduced the idea of a parishwide water plan to protect public health.

Zabrina Pitre, who chaired the meeting, pointed members to the committee packet and the Louisiana Department of Health grading information, saying, “The Killian system was graded as a 69% D in 2024.” Petrie noted that the packet compares Killian with other systems in the parish and that two of Louisiana’s four D- or F-rated systems are in Livingston Parish.

Committee discussion laid out three initial recommendations from the master plan packet: create a parishwide water plan, consider combining services with private and municipal providers, and plan for new infrastructure where necessary. Petrie said the proposal would not automatically merge systems but would provide planning and coordination: “This is just to introduce the issue at hand,” she said.

Member Clemons pressed for stronger oversight. “What we need is a commission here that oversees all of the water systems operating in the parish,” he said, arguing that a local body could detect failing systems earlier and compel remedial action. Other members described geological constraints south of I‑12 — including saltwater intrusion and differing aquifer strata — that make deep drilling and local solutions costly. One member observed that long-term fixes would likely require multi‑million‑dollar projects such as force mains to bring water from north of the interstate.

Committee members also clarified how the Department of Health grades systems: some small, private or mobile‑home park systems are required to sample and report the same as larger utilities, which can lower parish averages if many small systems are graded poorly.

No binding policy or ordinance was adopted at the meeting. The committee agreed that the next meeting should include research and concrete recommendations. Chair Petrie asked members to gather ideas on oversight options — including whether a parish commission, an administrative office within the parish president’s staff, or other models would be appropriate — and to return proposals for consideration.

The committee scheduled follow-up research rather than immediate action; the topic will be revisited with staff input and possible consultant updates at a future meeting.