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Important information about your drinking water

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

Houston River Waterworks District 11 Water System Failed to Take Corrective Action Following Identification of a Significant Deficiency

On 3/29/2023 the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) performed a detailed inspection and engineering evaluation of our water system called a sanitary survey. During this sanitary survey, they identified one or more significant deficiencies in our system. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. According to EPA’s Ground Water Rule, we were required to correct the deficiency (or deficiencies) or work with the State to develop a plan to correct the deficiency (or deficiencies). However, we failed to correct the deficiency or contact the State before the established deadline and have therefore violated a requirement of the Ground Water Rule.

What should I do?

There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.

What does this mean?

This is not an emergency. If it had been an emergency, you would have been notified within 24 hours.

This significant deficiency has the potential to result in lack of proper treatment and oversight of the water system. Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and associated headaches. While we have not detected any evidence of contamination or other health threats related to our source water, we are still committed to correcting the deficiency to eliminate the threat of contamination.

What was done?

A recent inspection by a contractor on May 17, 2023 shows there are no integrity issues with the tower at our water plant on Jim Pickens Road. Houston River Water Works is in the process of a tank rehabilitation project. The violation is a result of a missed communication with the Louisiana Dept. of Health, who has approved our course of action for reconditioning the tank.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

For more information, please contact Claude Swope by phone 337-528-3446 or by mail P.O. Box 2119, Sulphur, LA 70664 or at the office 745 W. Jim Pickens Road, Sulphur, LA 70663.

Date Distributed: October 27, 2023