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FERRIDAY, La. — Three out of seven Concordia Parish water systems failed the 2023 Louisiana Department of Health Safe Drinking Water grading program, based on LDH reports released May 1.

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 seven standards evaluating the infrastructure, accountability, and overall health risk of drinking water to consumers.

The three failing water systems — Ferriday, Clayton and Ridgecrest — are managed to some extent by JCP Management Inc., of Harrisonburg. Ferriday received the worst score of the three with 37 of 100 points, followed by Clayton with 43 out of 100 points and Ridgecrest with 51 of 100 points.

Canaan Cotten, with JCP Management, told Concordia Sentinel reporters that the issues with those water systems are not caused by “any operational defect,” but rather by where they are located.

“The state sets these guidelines and if you live in a certain area, you naturally break those guidelines,” Cotten told Sentinel reporters, “and you have to find an alternative method to adhere to those guidelines.”

The systems will have to develop an “alternative way” to treat the water that contains trihalomethane, or TTHM, which is a common contaminant often occurring in drinking water as a result of chlorine treatment, he said.

According to Cotten, Ferriday has certain attributes such as TTHM in its water that reacts to the chlorine due to the area it is located. Ridgecrest receives its water from Ferriday.

“It is not any operational defect,” Cotten said. “It more or less needs a treatment plan to get everything up to what the state wants for that particular parameter. Ferriday is working right now to find an alternative method that will not cause the reactions and the perimeters to occur.”

TOWN OF FERRIDAY

According to the report, the Town of Ferriday failed with 37 of 100 points.

A maximum 30 points were deducted for federal violations, which include treatment technique and maximum contaminant level violations that may pose a public health risk over an extended period of time.

Seven out of 10 possible points were deducted for state violations, which include no water operator, inadequate water disinfection, and boil notices and water outages that may lead to other issues of concern if not resolved.

Five out of 10 possible points were deducted for lack of financial sustainability which can affect operations and maintenance of the water system. An effective water rate can provide for the repair, maintenance, and future replacement of infrastructure.

Six out of 15 possible points were deducted for operation and maintenance deficiencies noted during water system inspections, which may affect the water quality being distributed to consumers.

A maximum 10 points were deducted for customer complaints received by the water system and/or the Louisiana Department of Health, which are confirmed to be a water quality or quantity issue in the water system.

The maximum 5 points were deducted for levels of iron and/or manganese greater than the secondary maximum contaminant levels. These levels do not pose a health risk but may cause undesirable water quality issues.

TOWN OF CLAYTON

The Town of Clayton Water System received a failing grade of 43 out of 100.

A maximum 30 points were deducted for federal violations, which include treatment technique and maximum contaminant level violations that may pose a public health risk over an extended period of time.

Two out of 10 maximum points were deducted for state violations, which include no water operator, inadequate water disinfection, and boil notices and water outages, which may lead to other issues of concern if not resolved.

Five out of 10 maximum points were deducted for lack of financial sustainability which can affect operations and maintenance of the water system.

Five out of 20 points possible were deducted for infrastructure deficiencies noted during water system inspections.

A maximum 10 points were deducted for customer complaints received by the water system and/or the Louisiana Department of Health, which are confirmed to be a water quality or quantity issue in the water system.

The maximum 5 points were deducted for levels of iron and/or manganese greater than the secondary maximum contaminant levels. These levels do not pose a health risk but may cause undesirable water quality issues.

RIDGECREST

The Village of Ridgecrest’s water was graded an F with 51 of 100 points.

Thirty points were deducted for federal violations, which include treatment technique and maximum contaminant level violations that may pose a public health risk over an extended period of time.

Another 10 points were deducted for lack of financial sustainability which can affect operations and maintenance of the water system.

Four points were deducted for customer complaints received by the water system and/or the Louisiana Department of Health, which are confirmed to be a water quality or quantity issue in the water system.

VIDALIA

The Town of Vidalia received a better-than-perfect score of 102 but had three points deducted for customer complaints received by the water system and/or the Louisiana Department of Health, which are confirmed to be a water quality or quantity issue in the water system.

Five out of 10 possible bonus points were added to Vidalia’s water system for having an asset management plan; a storage assessment and maintenance program; well assessment and maintenance program; participation in management training; or participation in a capacity development program.

MONTEREY

The Monterey Rural Water System received a near-perfect score of 99 out of 100, or a letter grade A.

One point was deducted for customer complaints received by the water system and/or the Louisiana Department of Health, which are confirmed to be a water quality or quantity issue in the water system.

CONCORDIA WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 1

Concordia Waterworks District No. 1 received an A letter grade or 90 out of 100 points for 2023.

Five out of 10 points possible were deducted for lack of financial sustainability which can affect operations and maintenance of the water system.

A maximum 10 points were deducted for customer complaints received by the water system and/or the Louisiana Department of Health, which are confirmed to be a water quality or quantity issue in the water system.

However, five bonus points were granted back to Concordia Waterworks District No. 1 for having an asset management plan; a storage assessment and maintenance program; well assessment and maintenance program; participation in management training; or participation in a capacity development program.

LAKE ST. JOHN WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 1

Lake St. John Waterworks District No. 1 received a letter grade of C or 70 out of 100 from LDH.

A maximum 30 points were deducted for federal violations, which include treatment technique and maximum contaminant level violations that may pose a public health risk over an extended period of time.

Five out of 10 possible points were deducted for lack of financial sustainability which can affect operations and maintenance of the water system.

Five out of 10 possible bonus points were added back for having an asset management plan; a storage assessment and maintenance program; well assessment and maintenance program; participation in management training; or participation in a capacity development program.