By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Efforts are progressing to improve St. John the Baptist Parish’s aging water system and to alleviate sewerage issues in Wallace.

At the June 24 St. John the Baptist Parish Finance Committee Meeting, the committee opened the meeting by authorizing parish administration to advertise for bids for the Mississippi River Waterline Crossing Project.

The Department of Health and Hospitals’ Office of Public Health Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program awarded $5.5 million to St. John Parish Waterworks Districts 1 and 2 in October to implement four improvements to the parish’s aging drinking water systems, including the waterline project.

The project will install a water main beneath the Mississippi River to connect the Lions Water Treatment Plant on the east bank to the Edgard Water Treatment Plant on the west bank. The line will provide a backup water supply to the parish’s west bank customers.

Parish administrative officials reported all permits are being finalized for the project and the DHH granted approval to move forward with the bid process.

Another key committee action authorized administration to amend the contract with Mixson Utility Services in the amount of $72,000 for a fourth Sewer Force Main Project in Wallace.

The project will install 1,600 feet of force main from the Sugar Land subdivision to the West 13th Street Lift Station in Wallace, with the goal of alleviating recurring overflow and back-up issues.

A $246,520 Sewer Force Main Extension Project on three mains is underway in LaPlace, designed to reduce sewer problems experienced during heavy rain events. The committee’s vote to amend the contract means Mixson Utility Services will complete the Wallace project as well.

The project is funded through the parish-wide Sewerage Construction Fund.