[StBernard] EPA Issues Two Final Administrative Orders to Water Supply Systems in Northeast Louisiana

[Westley Annis]

  (Dallas, Texas - Sep. 11, 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 two final
administrative orders to owners and operators of public water supply systems
for violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. 

            The public water systems named in these orders are the McClendon
Community Water Well, Inc., owned and operated by Jeffrey Pruett of West
Monroe, Louisiana, and Mer Rouge Water System/Rankin Subdivision, owned and
operated by the Village of Mer Rouge. 

            During August 2007, 15 public water systems in northeast
Louisiana were named in administrative orders for violating the Safe
Drinking Water Act.   

            "Public health cannot be jeopardized by public water systems
that fail to provide clean and safe drinking water," said EPA Regional
Administrator Richard E. Greene.  "When these systems experience problems,
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 17 water systems in northeast
Louisiana.  They found numerous operations and maintenance violations
requiring immediate compliance actions.  These violations included improper
storage of chlorine gas, insufficient chlorine residuals, improper
disinfection and use of improper disinfectant, lack of a backup source of
potable water, lack of a source of emergency electrical power, lack of
sanitary easement around wellheads, and no site security, among others. 

            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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