Water problems for customers of the Manifest-Rhinehart Water System continue to be an issue months after the system was merged with the Nebo Water System.

While there have been ongoing issues with brown, smelly water since wells collapsed back in March of 2023, the problems seemed to have intensified at the end of December and have continued since.

The issue began back in March last year when the system’s main water well collapsed. Things went from bad to worse when the system’s backup well also went down leaving customers with no water source.

An emergency interconnect was subsequently approved by the state to merge the Manifest-Rhinehart Water System with the Nebo Water System which allowed the Nebo system to provide water for the Manifest system to get customers’ water flowing once again.

The action also allowed the two systems to apply and receive $10-million in grants for a complete system overhaul, including the drilling of new water wells, replacement of lines and meters and much more.

However, the process of seeing all of that come to fruition is taking a considerable amount of time.

In the meantime, many customers continue to have brown water, water that emits a terrible odor, ruins clothes and stains bathtubs and sinks and reports of skin rashes from individuals bathing in the water.

Residents have taken to social media to post of their problems, including posting photos of their brown water and sharing many of the horrible effects the water is having on their lives.

Senator Glen Womack, whose company, JCP Management of Harrisonburg who oversees the merged water system, said they are working to resolve the issues daily but perfect water will not flow until the entire project is completed.

“We are constantly flushing the lines and doing everything possible to relieve the issues,” Womack said last week. “Again, we are dealing with old lines that travel up and down the hills and hollows. The sediments settle and fall into the water causing the discoloration but flushing does help.”

The Senator asked customers who are experiencing issues to please contact the JCP Management office at (318) 744-0308.

“We need them to contact the office and leave their address and give us details about what is wrong,” he said. “Then, after we come and flush or do what needs to be done, contact us back and let us know if the problem has been resolved or if they are still there.”

He also noted that chlorine amounts have been decreased due to reports from residents of high amounts in their water.

Womack said his main priority is to get customers clean water, or at least the best the system will allow.

“But again, we’re dealing with a major issue here and until we complete the entire project, we’ll continue to have issues,” he said.

The Senator provided a detailed project status update which showed much has been done since the emergency declaration was made last spring.

Currently, plans and specifications have been submitted to the Louisiana Department of Health concerning site improvements to the Nebo Water Treatment Facility and the distribution system-wide improvements.

They are also in the process of acquiring property for the construction of two new water wells and the construction of three booster stations.

“Because federal funds are involved, the property acquisition procedures are very burdensome,” the status report noted. “We have contacted affected landowners and have initiated the property acquisition negotiation process. The water system has hired an appraiser to establish the value of the parcels and those appraisals are expected to be delivered to our engineer by January 21, 2024.”

The report said the goal is to have their plans and specifications approved and advertise for construction bids by March 31, 2024.

“As you can see, much work has been done and continues to be done for the new water system,” Senator Womack said. “I have taken this project very seriously and I’m still committed to having this one of the best water systems in the state that will eventually provide the water that those customers should expect and deserve.”

While he understands the frustration of those whose water continues to have issues, he again asked for patience as they work to resolve the issues.

“We just ask that people call our office and report the problems,” he said. “I promise you, we will send someone out and do what we can to relieve the situation to the best of our ability.”

Flushing is the best alternative at the moment, however, because of state mandates concerning maintaining certain water pressure, they can’t flush the entire system at one time.

“So, our best alternative is to find where problems are and start flushing from there,” he said. “We keep flushing from the point of the problem and work our way back until the issue is resolved. But again, this process takes time and we ask for patience.”