AMY SZPARA

LAPLACE – This time last year St. John Parish residents were asked to conserve water and had to put up with low pressure during a water pump replacement. Though business owners complained about having to close down their shops for a day, parish officials tried to assure the public a short time of inconvenience would prevent them from having to face much more dismal circumstances later. According to Henry DiFranco, director of public works and utilities in St. John, what could have been a desperate situation Sunday, was less critical because of the pump replacement last summer. Two wells are used to supply LaPlace residents and businesses with water. Both located in Ruddock, one well supplied 75 percent of the water, while the other supplied the other 25 percent. DiFranco was concerned about the 15-year-old pump in the well that supplied most of the water to town. “The motor was constantly tripping out,” he said. Meanwhile, the other pump could only handle 25 percent of the water supply and was already over 30 years old, past its useful life. “We knew it could go out at any time. We had to repair the other pump,” he said. During a one-day operation in July, a higher-capacity pump was installed in the well that supplied the majority of LaPlace’s water. People were asked not to waste water and experienced low pressure for a day. Griner Drilling Service, Inc. installed the pump, one that would handle an additional 25 percent of water supply, making the one pump then as strong as the two had been combined. “By making the decision to install a higher capacity pump, we knew that at least if the older pump went out, we would be in as good shape as we had been before last summer,” said DiFranco. Then, Sunday, what DiFranco had predicted did happen. The 30-year-old pump went out. The motor died. “Had we not increased the second well last summer, had we not gotten another pump when the motor kept tripping out, LaPlace could have been without water for five days or so,” said DiFranco. Both wells are needed, according to DiFranco, and his department is hoping that the older pump can be repaired. But, he said, if the repairs had not been made to the younger pump last year, LaPlace could be in bad shape right now. Griner Drilling Service was notified of the now shut-down well and has eight to 10 days to evaluate the problem and determine if a solution can be made. “If it cannot be fixed, we will have to speed up our efforts to build a new water plant,” said DiFranco. “We may have to implement a water emergency plan and ask residents to conserve water.” According to DiFranco, if residents do not adhere to recommendations to conserve water if requested to do so, the parish is forced to allow only low water pressure in order to keep the tanks full and to have water on hand. “We took a lot of heat from business owners last year,” said DiFranco, adding that the project took about 15 hours to replace the motor and close to 36 hours to work on other areas related to getting the pump in order. “They need to know why we had to do what we did last year, to avoid businesses having to close for more than just one day,” he said. DiFranco said it is possible the older pump will not be able to be repaired, which might mean putting in another well in Ruddock for a short-term solution. Another well would cost around $1 million, but DiFranco said the much needed facility would cost between $10 million and $15 million. He said he will pursue federal and state funding to help offset some of that cost.