Latest news with #WilliamDaniel
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shreveport fails state water report again, city plans for improvements
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – For the second year in a row, Shreveport's water system received an 'F' grade in a statewide report. William Daniel of Water and Sewage explained, 'Most of the points we lost were due to infrastructure issues. However, some of the grade was also impacted by manganese-related concerns.' In Louisiana, community water systems are graded based on seven standards as part of the Community Drinking Water Accountability Rule, established under Act 98 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. These standards are designed to evaluate the overall quality and sustainability of the water systems. Federal Water Quality Violations: Compliance with federal regulations regarding water quality. State Violations: Adherence to state-specific water quality regulations. Financial Sustainability: The financial health and ability of the water system to maintain operations and infrastructure. Operation and Maintenance: The effectiveness of the system's operational practices and maintenance routines. Infrastructure: The condition and reliability of the physical infrastructure of the water system. Customer Satisfaction: Feedback and satisfaction levels from the customers served by the water system. Secondary Contaminants: Levels of secondary contaminants like iron and manganese Despite the low grade, city officials assure residents that Shreveport's water remains safe to drink. Addressing concerns related to the winter freeze and discoloration caused by manganese, the city says tests have verified that both microbial and chemical levels are within safe drinking water standards. 'Manganese and geosmin affect the taste and smell of the water, but they fall under secondary water quality standards. These are aesthetic issues, not health concerns,' Daniel added. Mayor Tom Arceneaux emphasized the city's commitment to resolving these issues and noted significant progress. To address these issues, the city has already completed several related projects, including: The rehabilitation of water towers Installation of backup generators at storage facilities Replacement of the outdated chlorine dioxide oxidation system Re-implementation of the activated carbon system to address taste and odor issues The city plans to upgrade water quality and system reliability with additional upgrades, like automated cleaning systems to reduce sludge buildup, replacing outdated pipes and valves in the distribution system, upsizing undersized water mains, reducing dead ends, and installing automatic flushing units. Many of these projects are being funded through the 2024 bond issue approved by voters. The bond will support replacing transmission lines responsible for moving 60% of the City's water, upgrades to treatment equipment and plant facilities, the construction of a new water intake system, along with the design and construction of a strategically located water tower to improve system pressure and reliability. City representatives say the 2024 bond will significantly improve infrastructure, reliability, and overall water quality. For more information about the City's ongoing water system improvements, Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Shreveport Water Department addresses taste, odor in water
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The City of Shreveport's Water and Sewerage Department is addressing temporary changes in the taste and smell of the city's drinking water. According to a press release from the city, officials say these changes, caused by naturally occurring algae blooms in Cross Lake, have led to the presence of Geosmin, a harmless compound responsible for an earthy taste and odor. The department reassures residents that despite the noticeable changes, the water remains completely safe to drink and use for household purposes. 'Geosmin is not harmful to health, but we understand it can be unpleasant,' said William Daniel, Director of Water and Sewerage. 'We are actively working to resolve this issue and appreciate the community's patience.' More local news The city typically treats Cross Lake with copper sulfate from March to November to manage algae growth. The most recent treatment, conducted in late November, exhausted the 2024 inventory. Officials say that the unseasonably warmer water in Cross Lake led to additional algae growth in December and January. Although the City has placed an order for additional copper sulfate delivery has been delayed due to last week's snow in south Louisiana. Suppliers are working to expedite the shipment, which is expected to arrive soon. The water treatment plant is continuing oxidation with ozone to address the odor. While ozone is highly effective against Geosmin, intermittent outages occurred during recent cold spells. The city says these outages, lasting only a few hours at a time, contributed to the odor being more noticeable for some residents. The issues with the ozone generator have been resolved and the generator is back in service. Other treatment processes used at the plant, including chlorine dioxide, coagulation, and chloramination, are not effective against Geosmin. 'We are committed to providing our residents with safe, high-quality water and are taking every measure to address the current situation,' added Daniel. Officials say residents can expect noticeable improvements in taste and smell over the next two weeks as copper sulfate treatments resume and ozone operations continue. For updates and additional information, please visit the Water and Sewerage Department's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
