[StBernard] [r6news] EPA Continues Enforcement of Drinking Water Rules in Northeast Louisiana

[Westley Annis]

 (Dallas, Texas -- August 28, 2007)  In its continuing effort to ensure
that the residents of northeast Louisiana have safe drinking water, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has issued an
additional nine administrative orders to owner-operator Jeffrey Pruett
of West Monroe, Louisiana.

The public water systems named in these orders are the Hancock Haven
Water System, Ebeneezer Water System, Waterside Subdivision Water
System, Taylor Water System, Spillway Estates Water System, Paradise
Point Water System, Hillside Park Subdivision Water System, Richland
Heights Water System, and the Mer Rouge Water System/Rankin Subdivision,
all in the Monroe, Louisiana, area.

“These actions are a reminder to those who own and operate public water
supply systems of their responsibility to provide clean and safe
drinking water,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.
“When these systems fail to follow the rules and jeopardize public
health, immediate actions will be taken to return them to compliance.”

In July 2007, staff from the EPA and the Louisiana Department of Health
and Hospitals (LDHH), inspected these water systems.  They found
numerous operations and maintenance violations requiring immediate
compliance action.  These violations included failure to provide written
notice to LDHH confirming ownership, improper disinfection and use of
improper disinfectant, lack of a backup source of potable water, lack of
sanitary easement around wellheads, and no monthly reports of systems
operations.

Based on these findings, the owners and operators of these public water
supply systems have been ordered to immediately take action to bring the
systems into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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