By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Effects of a boil water order issued for the LaPlace area Saturday evening continued to linger Monday as area schools and businesses were forced to alter routines and work around the lack of clean tap water.

The order was lifted Tuesday morning after a water sample sent to the Department of Health and Hospitals Monday morning received state approval for contaminant levels, but the uncertainty still prompted precautions from the parish school system and many local businesses.

Heidi Trosclair, media relations coordinator for the St. John Parish School System, said all four LaPlace public schools – LaPlace Elementary, Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, John L. Ory Elementary and Emily C. Watkins Elementary – were affected by the order. She said students and parents were notified through the school system’s Connect-Ed.

“We just advised them of the order and encouraged students to bring bottled water to class with them Monday,” Trosclair said. “We also made arrangements to have bottled water at all four schools and restricted water fountain use. The cafeteria staff was also made aware, and their cooking routines were altered.”

Many local restaurants and businesses were forced to make changes to procedures and menu offerings due to the boil order. Fast food restaurants were not serving fountain drinks and some eateries, like Chili’s on Airline Highway, even went as far as using plastic plates, cups and utensils to avoid washing dishes in potentially contaminated water. Other places, like Frostop on Airline Highway, purchased ice and canned and bottled drinks in an effort to make do.

“It is kind of frustrating that I couldn’t get my drink with my order,” said Emilio Warren, who left one LaPlace fast food restaurant with food but no drink. “It’s good to know they are being careful, but it is a shame the system is so inconsistent.”

St. John Public Safety Director Paul Oncale said the problem occurred Saturday during routine maintenance at the Nano Filtration system, which is connected to the Ruddock water well. He said waterworks crews were changing out about 40 of the system’s 200 membranes and had to shut the system off.

“The problem was fixed, but we still have to submit a sample to DHH to ensure it is safe to drink,” Oncale said. “That sample came back unsatisfactory Saturday, which prompted the boil order.

Oncale said the parish could not submit a water sample to DHH Sunday because the agency was closed. He said since Monday’s sample came back negative Tuesday the water was probably safe to drink most of the day Sunday and Monday.

“We’ll still have to err on the side of caution,” he said. “It is mandated that we issue an order if there is any question about contamination.”

The parish has struggled for years to correct chronic problems with the LaPlace water system. Parish officials are confident that a pending expansion at the Lions Treatment Plant in Reserve will take some of the pressure off the Ruddock well system.