If you've turned on your tap in the last few weeks and watched brown water come out, you are not imagining it — and you are not alone. I've heard from neighbors across the town, and I want to give you the clearest picture I can of what's happening and what we're doing.
What's causing it
The discoloration is caused by manganese, a naturally occurring mineral in our groundwater. When chlorine is introduced at the treatment stage, it oxidizes the manganese, which then shows up in the line as a brown or rust-colored tint.
The Louisiana Department of Health has reviewed our readings. The water meets state safety standards, and the state does not classify this as a health concern. That said — I understand that "technically safe" doesn't make it feel okay to fill a glass. It isn't okay as a long-term status quo, and no one on council is treating it that way.
Residents deserve water that's safe and looks like water. Both. That's the standard we should be holding ourselves to.
What we're doing about it
Over the past two months the town has been:
- Working with our water operators to adjust chlorine dosing in the most affected zones
- Scheduling expanded line flushing on the streets that have reported the most issues
- Evaluating longer-term treatment options (including sequestration and filtration upgrades) with the town engineer
- Coordinating with LDH on continued water quality testing and reporting
How to report a problem
If you're seeing discolored water, please report it so we can track where and when it's happening. Patterns help us prioritize flushing and target the fix:
- Call Town Hall during business hours
- Or send me a note through the contact page on this site
What I'm pushing for
In the next budget cycle I'll be advocating for a capital allocation toward treatment upgrades that address this at the source — not just the symptoms. I'll keep you posted on that timeline as it firms up.
In the meantime: keep reporting. Keep calling. Your data is what gives the council the case to act.