Water grades: Most parish systems receive high marks
Community water systems in Lincoln Parish have improved overall since last year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health’s water system grading program.
The 2023 grades, released in May, show of the 20 local systems, 13 earned A’s, three earned B’s, two received C’s — including the city of Ruston — and two got D’s.
Some systems went up a letter a grade, while others went down and others remained the same. The parish earned more A’s than in 2022 and no F’s. Last year, the Hico Water System got an F.
The biggest fluctuation were the B grades. There were only three for 2023 compared to 10 the years before.
The Culbertson Water System on the east side of the parish posted the biggest gain, going from a B with an 80% score in 2022 to A this year with a 103% score, including bonus points.
Of the other A-rated systems, Mineral Springs, Riser Road, and Wesley Chapel each scored 100%. Last year, Mineral Springs was the only system to earn a perfect mark.
The grades stem from Louisiana’s Community Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Act passed by the Legislature in 2021. The act is designed to increase transparency for water customers and create accountability for water systems.
Grades are calculated on an A-to-F scale using points assigned to seven standards evaluating the infrastructure, customer satisfaction, operation and maintenance of the system, any state or federal violations, and overall water quality.
Systems can also earn bonus points for items including participating in training.
The Choudrant Water System was again the lone A- rated municipal system. Simsboro received a B, up from a C last year; Ruston and Grambling each dropped from B’s to C’s; and Dubach slid from a B to a D for 2023.
Dubach lost most of its points for federal water quality violations, according to score sheets posted on the DHH website. It also lost points in the financial stability category.
Ruston’s biggest loss came because it lost credit given last year for a rate study that’s still pending, city Water Superintendent Jim Frasier said.
The city got credit in 2022 for work done toward the study. Ruston also got dinged because state reviewers couldn’t find all the financial sustainability data they were looking for in the water system audit.
“But it’s in there,” Frasier said.
He said he showed graders that information they were seeking but they wouldn’t change the mark.
The city and other systems also lost points over customer satisfaction. The grading report showed Ruston has 10 valid water complaints for the year.
Meantime Hico Water System, that serves the northernmost part of the parish, pulled itself up from the only failing system in 2022, to barely passing with a low D. As with last year, the system dropped most of its points over apparent federal water violations.
According to the grading report, the system continues to exceed allowed contaminant levels and is out of compliance with an administrative order.
While there are no mandated improvements for points lost in grades A through C, there are consequences for systems earning D’s and F’s.
In dire cases, LDH may seek receivership for the water system where the enforcement process has not yielded timely compliance with regulations, the department’s website said. Also, for water systems with a grade of D or F, LDH must notify the State Bond Commission, Louisiana Public Service Commission, Louisiana Legislative Auditor, and attorney general to assist with oversight of funding, new debt, and revenue spending.
LDH oversees approximately 1,280 public water systems.
