Parish and Inframark brief council on low water-system grades; officials cite aging towers, dead-end lines and funding gaps

Parish water-system operators and administration told the Plaquemines Parish Council on June 11 that recently published 2025 water-system grades reflect infrastructure issues — not a failing drinking water supply — and outlined a phased response to bring facilities back into compliance.

Jeff (Inframark) and Mr. Morgan (administration) reviewed grades by district: Port Sulfur scored in the mid-40s, Belchase was near 52%, Delcore roughly 78% and Pointe La Hache near 91% in the discussions. The presenters said most point deductions were tied to noncompliance administrative orders (including missing permanent generators, tower repairs and chloride or other contaminant exceedances associated with saltwater intrusion) and to low residual chlorine caused by dead-end lines and undetected leaks.

Jeff said the parish has been pursuing capital-outlay grants to address the highest-priority repairs and described a phased approach: a capital-outlay award for phase one (~$700,000) to begin specific tower repairs and an additional $6 million listed in a P5 (priority five) request that officials hope will be advanced to priority one in the next session to complete remaining work. Staff said many deductions resulted from inactive tanks or water that had 'sat' (old water) after operational changes during last year’s saltwater intrusion.

Operations staff described sampling protocols to the council: daily in-plant and distribution sampling (chlorine residuals and other parameters), designated sample stations by district (example counts discussed by council: 35 sample stations in Belchase, 6 in Pointe La Hache, 7 in Delcore and 10 in Port Sulfur), plus state lab confirmation of compliance samples. Staff emphasized that the drinking water delivered to customers remained safe to drink while infrastructure items lowered grade scores.

Residents raised complaints about sand in lines and brown water after breaks; staff explained sand accumulation can follow major main breaks or filter disturbances and pledged targeted investigation. Council members and staff discussed system improvements (looping dead-end lines, dual feeds, additional permanent generators and a 20-inch line project to support a loop feed), meter replacement programs, rate-study crediting issues (the parish performed a rate study the state did not credit in all districts) and the need for long-term enterprise fund self-sustainability to keep receiving grants.

Officials pledged to provide clearer public reporting, including annual consumer confidence reports and potentially more frequent posting of key sample results, and to return with costed plans for additional tower repairs and looping projects. Several residents recounted billing disputes and requested targeted follow-up for water-bill adjustments when leaks occurred; operators said billing adjustments and trend reports are available and staff would follow up on individual accounts.

Council discussion stressed that the grade reports are a tool to prioritize capital improvements rather than an immediate public-health shutdown, and members directed staff to bring a prioritized plan and costs before the next meeting.