The 2023 letter grades for water system quality and performance posted this week. According to the LDH website, Act 98 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature authorized the Louisiana Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Program to develop a grade for community water system accountability. This would provide for the issuance of a letter grade reflective of community water system quality and performance. LDH determines letter grades based on 7 Standards evaluating the infrastructure, accountability, and overall health risk of drinking water to consumers.
Creston Water System Board President Patrice Harper said the system, which earned a “B” rating, had violations in 2021 for lack of alternate powers at wells and pump house. They received a water sector grant last year for $1.3 million, which is helping with a new pump house, glass tank, distribution lines, the installation of generator power, new electrical valves and more. The system also replaced a lot of distribution lines, even before receiving the grant.
“We’ve really made a lot of progress,” said Harper. “All the board members are from the Creston-Black Lake area so it’s a lot of hands on deck to help move things in the right direction. We’re constantly working to improve and make things better for the water customers we serve.”
The seven standards are:
• Federal Water Quality
• State Water Quality
• Financial Sustainability
• Operation and Maintenance
• Infrastructure
• Customer Satisfaction
• Secondary Contaminants (Iron and Manganese)
Natchitoches Parish water systems grades are listed.
BELLWOOD WATER SYSTEM – D
CAMPTI WATER SYSTEM – D
CHEE CHEE BAY WATER SYSTEM – A
CHESTNUT-READHIMER WATER SYSTEM – C
CLARENCE WATER SYSTEM – C
CRESTON WATER SYSTEM – B
GOLDONNA WATER SYSTEM – A
HAGEWOOD WATER SYSTEM – A
NATCHITOCHES PARISH WATERWORKS DISTRICT 2 – C
NATCHITOCHES WATER SYSTEM – D
POWHATAN WATER SYSTEM – D
PROVENCAL WATER SYSTEM – D
SANDY POINT 480 WATER SYSTEM – A
