By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Mobilization and preparation began this month for the Mississippi River Waterline Crossing Project in St. John the Baptist Parish, which when complete, will provide a back-up water supply for the Lions and Edgard water systems serving west bank, Reserve, Garyville and Mount Airy residents.

“This project is a long time coming,” Parish President Natalie Robottom said, adding with the river at its lowest level, this time of year is ideal to complete the project. “Having the availability of the line between the east and west banks of our parish is a huge improvement to our water systems.”

The 12-inch waterline will allow for water to be distributed to residents on the east and/or west bank of the parish in the event of an emergency.

Parish Communication Director Paige Falgoust said contractors are working on either side of the river near the water systems, drilling 3,050 feet of pipe approximately 75 feet beneath the river.

A road closure is expected during the project, and Falgoust said notifications will be released when closures are scheduled.

“This type of project is common along the river, and services to residents will not be interrupted during construction,” Parish Utilities Director Virgil Rayneri said.

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 last year to implement four improvements to the parish’s aging drinking water systems, which includes the waterline project.

Assistant Secretary for Public Health J.T. Lane said the program “gives local communities a source of dependable and affordable financing to bring their water treatment facilities up to the latest and most modern technology that keeps their residents safe and healthy.”

The grant allows for additional subsidy in the form of principal forgiveness of up to 30 percent of the loan principal, with a cap of $1,125,000 of principal forgiveness per project.

The St. John Parish Finance Committee, comprised of parish Council members, awarded over $1.8 million to Grady Crawford Construction for the waterline project in September.

The project, which Falgoust said satisfies DHH’s requirement for redundancy at the Edgard Water Plant, is expected to be complete by April.