LDH releases water grades for 2024

By Michelle Bates

The Town of Arcadia’s water system has been upgraded from a “C” letter grade to a “B,” according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

Mayor O’Landis Millican announced the upgrade in Tuesday’s council meeting, saying the 89 percentile is due to a few minor detractions.

“We are excited to see our water grade increase,” Millican said. “We are working hard to get to an ‘A.’ We do believe with the increase in rates, it allows us the financial stability, since we were docked five points because of financial weakness. We believe that although it’s difficult to get an ‘A,’ we are striving to improve to get to it.”

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, the “B” letter grade is partly due to the fact that when then the testing was done, the new increase in water rates hadn’t gone into effect. The increase will be reflected on customers’ June bills.

Other factors included:

Six points were deducted for “state violations, which include no water operator, inadequate water disinfection and boil notices and water outages, may lead to other issues of concern if not resolved.”
Five points were deducted “for lack of financial stability which can affect operations and management of the water system. An effective water rate can provide for the repair maintenance and future replacement of infrastructure.” A total of 11 points were deducted.

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 over all health risk of drinking water to consumers.

The seven standards include:

Federal Water Quality
State Water Quality
Financial Sustainability
Operation and Maintenance
Infrastructure
Customer Satisfaction
Secondary Contaminants (Iron and Manganese)

The other water systems in Bienville Parish received the following grades:

Alabama Water System received 99 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
Alberta Water System received 58 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
Bienville Water System received 84 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”
Bryceland Water System received 68 of 100 points, giving them a “D.”
Castor Water System received 97 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
Friendship Water System received 70 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Gibsland Water System received 43 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
Lucky Waterworks received 60 of 100 points, giving them a “D.”
Edwards Millcreek Water System received 70 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Mt. Lebanon Water System received 89 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”
Mt. Olive Water System received 75 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Ringgold Water System received 55 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
Saline Water System received 49 of 100 points, giving them an “F.”
Taylor Water System received 95 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
Shiloh Waterworks District received 78 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Southeast Bienville Water System received 76 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Mount Calm Water System received 79 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Cypress Water System received 75 of 100 points, giving them a “C.”
Old Saline Community Water System received 90 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
Millcreek Water System received 85 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”
Jamestown Fryeburg Water System received 100 of 100 points, giving them an “A.”
Springhill Community Water System received 89 of 100 points, giving them a “B.”