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'Does Ponchatoula, Louisiana need to be the next Flint, Michigan?'

Residents in Ponchatoula say they have been complaining to City Hall about brown water coming out of their taps for years and demand a solution.

Residents in Ponchatoula reached out to Eyewitness News saying that once again they are getting brown water out of their tap. They say they are tired of seeing it come and go and want something to be done about it to permanently fix the problem.

“When it looks clear...that doesn't mean it's safe,” resident Sharon Lowery said.

When Eyewitness News first spoke to Lowery last year, she figured in time her problems would fade. But brown water poured out of her tap this week.

“This is the sediment of what it looks like when it's not brown. You can't see that, but as you shake it this is what we're getting in our tubs, our sinks. This is what we're supposed to drink,” Lowery said as she shook a glass bottle of water from her tap.

Homeowners say the brown water is deeply concerning. Bub Tucker says they have been complaining to City Hall about his water for more than two years.

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"We've got the Mayor on record several times saying he was going to address the issue. The whole time he's done little to nothing,” Tucker said.

Tucker says instead of fixing the issue, the town spent grant money on new sidewalks and purchased a huge strawberry statue. Tucker placed his water bills on the fruit, which sits in front of City Hall.

"At the end of the day I don't want a big brand new strawberry. Let's put some money into some clean water!” Tucker said.

Tucker says sometimes the water comes out light brown. Sometimes it comes out even darker, but the fact remains is that it comes and goes and it’s been going on for years now.

Eyewitness News reached out to City Hall to comment on the matter, however no response has been given at this time.

Although, in previous interviews, Mayor Bob Zabbia stated that well sources often have manganese and that it is being treated. Another resident showed Eyewitness News a notice from the city informing them because fire hydrants are being repaired in the area. They could see a cloudy appearance in their water.

To Tucker, those are just excuses.

"You know, what's it going to take? Does Ponchatoula, Louisiana need to be the next Flint, Michigan? You know, does somebody really have to get sick? Or really have to die for some serious attention to get paid to this?”

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