Doug Mouton / Northshore Bureau Chief
NEW ORLEANS -- The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is cracking down on a Northshore water company.
The DHH listed a series of "significant deficiencies" in a certified letter the department sent to Parks Water Works owner Kelly Johnson.
Parks Water Works is based in Loranger and operates the water system in the Poncherosa Ranches Subdivision near Pearl River.
"I can't begin to tell you how many people from this neighborhood are having the same problem," Ponderosa Ranches homeowner Pam Zanco said. "The water company is very difficult to deal with."
"I've been dissatisfied with the water since I moved here, in 2003," said Ponderosa Ranches homeowner Amy Sumrall.
In June, numerous complaints from neighbors led the DHH to install a presser recorder on the water system. The readings, according to the DHH, came back substandard, and a boil water advisory was issued to neighbors.
Water pressure is measured in units called PSI, pounds per square inch. The minimum PSI allowed by the state is 15. Below 15, the water is at a dangerously high risk for contaminants.
According to St. Tammany's Environmental Services Director Greg Gorden, the ideal PSI is around 60.
"When we've had some severe drought conditions recently, we've had some pressure issues," Gorden said. "We usually hover between 65 and 57 psi. At 40 people are calling and complaining."
Many neighbors in Ponderosa Ranches said, they had never had water pressure even has high as 40.
"My husband has a gauge," Pam Zanco said, "and the pressure at the line here on my property was twice at 5 PSI, and once at 7 PSI."
Coming out of the faucet, that would be a trickle, and not enough water to run a shower.
Among the violations listed on the DHH letter, that two sources of groundwater must be provided, and they are not.
"He does have a well there that is inoperable," Jack Causey said. "So, we required that he repair the well to get it operable. It can provide more water and more pressure to the system."
Causey is the chief engineer with the Department of Health and Hospitals, and is the administrator for Louisiana's Safe Drinking Water Program.
Causey also issued an emergency administrative order to one of Johnson's other water systems.
"We have had some problems," Causey said. "He has responded to some degree, but we'd kind of like - not have to get to that point. Saying that it's had to get to an Emergency A.O., and we have another case where it might get to that point - that is troublesome. That shouldn't happen."
Johnson and Parks Water Works operate water systems in three other St. Tammany neighborhoods: Central Park, Forest Glen and Village Guthrie.
Parks is one of 37 water companies providing service in parts of St. Tammany. In Louisiana, there are more than 1,400 individual water companies operating.
Both Gorden with St. Tammany and Causey with the DHH said, Parks is one of their more problematic water providers.
"To just continually have low pressure problems and it not be related to a water main break or some event," Causey said, "that is rare."
"It's been one that we've constantly gotten complaints about," Gorden said. "So from a private perspective, it's problematic."
Eyewitness News talked to Kelly Johnson on the phone Tuesday afternoon. Johnson said the problems in Ponderosa Ranches are drought related, and that outdoor use put such a strain on the small water company that it dropped the pressure.
Both the state and the parish acknowledged the drought has dropped pressure in many areas, but according to Causey, other small water companies are not having nearly the problems Parks is having.
"We're not seeing these kinds of low pressure problems throughout the state," Causey said.
Pam Zanco keeps records of her problems with Parks Water Works, and they include other issues beyond water pressure.
Her water line was recently moved, but it used to run above ground, over a parish drainage ditch.
According to Gorden, the new parish regulations would not allow the system to be set up the way it is now.
Zanco said complaints to the water company are ignored, and calls never returned.
"I think that's my frustration, is not having recourse, nowhere to turn," Zanco said. "I have excellent electrical service, even cell phone, everything works fine. The only problem we have is our water."
"It's been problematic with the operator," Gorden added. "He has a unique way of handling his customers, which, I would say, is less than good."
The state does not regulate customer service, according to Causey, but they can force water companies to raise water pressure.
"I expect the pressure to get better in the next week or two," Causey said. "It will get better, because we're going to continue to stay involved until it does."
Johnson told Eyewitness News he's confident he can fix the problem. He now has until Aug. 23 to do so, or face penalties.
If Johnson doesn't comply, the state does have the authority to take over the water system, although that is rare.
Neighbors are more skeptical.
"I hope that it would be better," Sumrall said. "But considering that we've dealt with this and been through this for years now, I honestly, at this point, don't see anything changing."
According to the DHH, water systems are only routinely surveyed once every three years, unless a problematic case like this one arises and requires more immediate attention.
The DHH asks anyone having a problem with their water company to call or email their complaint.
