Improving water supply key issue for Loreauville

LOREAUVILLE — The village of Loreauville wants to keep its water supply system updated and might apply for state funding to do so.

At its Monday meeting, the Loreauville Board of Alderman heard a presentation from T. Jay Ray, Jennifer Meyer and Earl Paddock of the state Department of Health and Hospitals. The subject was the Louisiana DHH Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, for which the village is considering submitting an application.

Loreauville Mayor Albert Broussard said there are two options the village is considering with respect to the loan program. The first is to use the loan to construct a new water treatment facility for the village, and the other involves building a connecting pipeline to the existing water system, the latter of which Broussard said was the best alternative.

“You want to have a treatment plant and tying into the New Iberia plant is the better option,” Broussard said. “Then we wouldn’t have to worry about a water treatment plant for Loreauville, which we have now.”

Broussard said the Loreauville water system’s well, pumps and other equipment are old and in need of an overhaul.

“I’m just worried about safe drinking water for the village,” Broussard said.

“I don’t want to alarm anyone, but we need to improve this system.”

Broussard said the project, which would represent a joint effort between DHH and Louisiana Water Co., would cost an estimated $1 million. A decision on whether to pursue the project is expected within the next 60 days.

LAWCO Regional Manager Jim Brugh said such a water connection project, if approved by Loreauville, would take an estimated 310 days to complete, barring weather and other factors.

“A connector line would start near Darnall Road and Louisiana 182, or possibly in the Andre Street or Lewis Street area of New Iberia, or possibly closer to Loreauville,” Brugh said.

“We’ll know more when we run the final hydraulics.”