[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish struggles to find funds for new water treatment

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish struggles to find funds for new water treatment 
facility

07:57 PM CDT on Thursday, October 19, 2006

WWLTV.com

St. Bernard Parish struggles to find funds for new water treatment 
facility
07:57 PM CDT on Thursday, October 19, 2006
WWLTV.com
St. Bernard Parish's plans for a new water treatment plant took a back 
seat after Katrina but the outdated system's flaws have been exposed 
even more as the parish tries to rebuild.  
  

At the treatment plant, some parts have sat in disrepair for so long 
that trees and other growth are sprouting from one of the tanks.  
  
Plans for a new facility were launched shortly before Katrina, but now 
funds are scarce and the $40 million price tag has likely ballooned due 
to the cost of construction after the storm.  
  
Linda Daly of the St. Bernard Sewerage and Water Board says the water 
system is barely keeping up with the demand and now that businesses -- 
specifically the oil refineries -- are getting back up to pre-Katrina 
capacity, their demand for more water is draining the available pool.  
  
"The demand by industry of wanting water, more water, if they can't 
get that, they won't come back and we won't be able to establish jobs in 
the community," said Daly.  
  
Daly said an expanding oil refinery said it needs an additional three 
million gallons of water every day. That single request is one-fourth 
of what the parish produces altogether.  
  
Adding to the demand worries will be the soon-to-come stricter water 
standards that will require a more modern plant.  
  
Parish leaders say they will try to find other sources of funding 
within the next eight months. They say without the new plant, water 
pressure could drop, leaving businesses unsatisfied and recovery plans in 
limbo.