Department of Utilities Notices

The Department of Utilities will be flushing the Faubourg Coquille Water System from May 25thto June 6th. The flushing is anticipated to follow the schedule below but is subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Customers living in these areas can expect to experience low water pressure when flushing is initiated. If you are not a Department of Utilities customer or if you do not live in one of the subdivisions/areas identified below, this notice does not apply.

Wednesday, May 25th 9:00 a.m. – until
Hwy 1085, Willow Bend, Del Sol, Tuscany West, Diversified, Savannah Trace, Wingfield

Thursday, May 26th 9:00 a.m. – until
I-12, Beau Arbre, Hidden Creek, Del Sol

Friday, May 27th 9:00 a.m. – until
Camellia Blvd, Seymour Meyers, Madison Farms

Tuesday, May 31st 9:00 a.m. – until
Madisonville Market, Post Oak, Stonebridge, Heritage Oaks, Myrtle Grove, Madisonville Elementary

Wednesday, June 1st9:00 a.m. – until
Tchefuncte Trace, Tchefuncte South, South Down, Arbor Walk, Arbor Walk Business, Natchez Trace

Thursday, June 2nd 9:00 a.m. – until
Brewster Road, Les Bois, Ruelle Du Chene, Rex Ave, Palm Courts, Fairfield Oaks, Tchefuncte Parc

Friday, June 3rd 9:00 a.m. – until
Dominion, Fox Branch, Highland Oaks, Windermere, Dummy Line Road

Monday, June 6th 9:00 a.m. – until
Black River, Black River Estates, Claiborne Oaks, Autumn Creek, Spring Haven

• The Department of Utilities flushes the water mains periodically to:

- Maintain good quality water. Over time, naturally occurring minerals accumulate on the interior of our pipes. Flushing scours the pipe and removes these deposits.
- Provide required fire flow data to the Fire Department. While flushing, Tammany Utilities personnel measure and record the fire flow data at each hydrant. This data is then given to the Fire Department who then uses the data to calculate fire insurance ratings for the area.
- Ensure that all fire hydrants are in good working order.

We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this maintenance
causes.

St. Tammany Parish Government’s Department of Utilities announces the conversion to Free Chlorine (Chlorine Burn) on the Cross Gates Water System is being concluded.

The Cross Gates Water System is being converted back to a Chloramine (Total Chlorine) disinfection system from the Free Chlorine disinfection system used for the Chlorine Burn. The Chlorine Burn was intended to raise the Free Chlorine residual to 1.0 ppm at all points in the distribution system for a duration of 60 days as recommended in the Owen & White report.

The Free Chlorine conversion was initiated on April 25, 2022 and after several days the system was able to convert to a Free Chlorine system and Free Chlorine residuals were achieved at all points in the distribution system; however, a mechanical failure of the dosing pumps resulted in the Free Chlorine residual dropping below 0.5ppm. A redundant dosing pump system was installed the next week while the Free Chlorine residual was re-established. Throughout the following weeks, the Free Chlorine residual remained above a 1.0 ppm in most of the distribution system and above a 0.5 ppm over the entire distribution. However, when a particular water well begins pumping due to a drop in system pressure, the chlorine residuals would intermittently drop below a 0.5ppm throughout the water system. The intermittent drop in Free Chlorine residual was investigated, and it was determined that the Free Chlorine residual could be achieved, but was unable to be maintained due to several limiting factors with the Cross Gates water distribution system.

The Free Chlorine conversion process disclosed several limiting factors for implementing Free Chlorine disinfection on the Cross Gates water system. The first limiting factor is that one of the water wells on the Cross Gates system requires more Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid bleach) chemical dosing than the legal EPA dosing limit to achieve and maintain a Free Chlorine residual. This means that all of the water this well pumps into the system does not have a stable Free Chlorine residual so it reacts with and consumes the Free Chlorine residual in the system causing a quick drop in the system wide Free Chlorine residual. The water chemistry from this well has naturally occurring Ammonia and organic compounds along with a high pH which requires the higher dosing of Chlorine to maintain a Free Chlorine residual. These water chemistry characteristics are favorable for Chloramine (Total Chlorine) disinfection with Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid bleach), which is able to provide a consistent Total Chlorine residual in compliance with both the EPA and Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) requirements. Second, this same well is needed to provide the required water capacity and flow for the Cross Gates water system so it must remain connected and functional. Third, the current control panels for the pumps on the water system operate using pressure readings on the distribution system so the well that experiences the pressure drop in the system from increased demand starts first. This creates a difficulty in establishing and maintaining a primary well, which compounds with the first two limiting factors and results in a Free Chlorine residual being able to be established but unable to consistently be maintained. The Precautionary Boil Water Advisory was left in place for the past three weeks due to the inconsistent Free Chlorine residual.

The Chlorine Burn process did result in a Free Chlorine residual of 0.5 ppm or higher for several days and all points in the system achieving the 1.0 ppm recommended Free Chlorine residual at some time during the Chlorine burn. Between May 10^th and 11^th, a total of 12 bacteria samples were collected from evenly distributed sites within the system all of which returned negative results.  The Chlorine Burn also required significant flushing of all distribution lines within the Cross Gates water system. Valuable data was obtained to use to improve the understanding and operation of the water system going forward. New control panels that allow for improved well pump control and duplex chemical dosing pump skids will be purchased for the well sites. Additionally, the first project that will be performed as part of the East Slidell Regional Water Consolidation Phase 1 of the Water Sector Project will be a hydraulic model of the entire Cross Gates water system.

The Department of Utilities will continue to work diligently to provide safe, quality water to all of its customers. Upon completion of LDH Boil Water Advisory sampling, the Precautionary Boil Water Advisory will be rescinded. A full report of the Free Chlorine conversion will be completed by a consultant and will be posted on the Department of Utilities website when available.

Rescinded 5.17.2022
PRECAUTIONARY BOIL ADVISORY
ST. TAMMANY PARISH - MADISONVILLE WOODS WATER SYSTEM
PWS # LA1103147

Today, May 14, 2022, an electrical problem at the well servicing the Madisonville Woods water system caused a temporary loss of pressure.  Out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with Louisiana Department of Health regulations, all customers serviced by the Madisonville Woods water system are under a Precautionary Boil Advisory.

This BOIL ADVISORY is to remain in effect until rescinded by the Department of Utilities.  It is recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:

Boil water for one (1) full minute in a clean container.  The one minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil.  (The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a clean bottle, pouring it from one clean container to another, or by adding a small pinch of salt to each quart of water that is boiled.)

Again, please be sure to disinfect your own water prior to consumption until you have been advised otherwise.

The Department of Utilities will rescind this BOIL ADVISORY upon notification from the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health that additional water samples collected from our system have shown the water to be safe.  

Customers affected by this advisory will be advised when it is rescinded by hand delivered notifications and signs placed at the entrance to the subdivision. If you have any questions, please call the Department of Utilities at (985) 276-6400.

(RESCINDED 5.20.2022)
PRECAUTIONARY BOIL ADVISORY
Cross Gates Water System (PWS 1103053)

Today, May 14, 2022 the free chlorine residual in the Cross Gates distribution system temporarily dropped below the required regulatory minimum.  This was caused by a mechanical failure of one of the chlorine pumps. The defective pump has been replaced and disinfection is being restored. However, as an abundance of caution and in accordance with Louisiana Department of Health regulations, the entire Cross Gates water system will be under a precautionary Boil Advisory effective immediately.

This BOIL ADVISORY is to remain in effect until rescinded by the Department of Utilities. It is recommended that all consumers disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:

Boil water for one (1) full minute in a clean container.  The one minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil.  (The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a clean bottle, pouring it from one clean container to another, or by adding a small pinch of salt to each quart of water that is boiled.)

Again, please be sure to disinfect your own water prior to consumption until you have been advised otherwise.

The Department of Utilities will rescind this BOIL ADVISORY upon notification from the Louisiana Department of Health that additional water samples collected from our system have shown the water to be safe.  

Customers affected by this advisory will be notified when it is rescinded by local media, social media, the Parish website, reverse 911 calls, and signs placed throughout the area. If you have any questions, please call the Department of Utilities at (985) 276-6400.