By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Water taken in a sample two weeks ago from St. John the Baptist Parish Water District 1 tested positive for Naegleria fowleri ameba, Parish President Natalie Robottom confirmed at a press conference Thursday morning.

She said the announcement was made public Wednesday afternoon, an hour after parish officials received the information in a conference call with the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Robottom said the sample was required to sit for 10 days before sampling took place. She said residents were notified as soon as possible.

“The concern is when water goes deep into your nasal passage,” Robottom said of the ameba.

She said any potential threats associated with the ameba could occur only when the water enters deep enough into the nasal passage to cause a burning sensation.

The impacted water system serves 12,577 people in Reserve, Garyville, Mt. Airy and a small portion of LaPlace on West 5th from Acorn Street to Apricot Street.

DHH has issued an emergency order requiring St. John Water District 1 to perform a free-chlorine burn to kill the ameba within the water system. Robottom said this process started this morning at 7 a.m.

Robottom said the water remains safe to drink, cook with and bathe in during this time. At the end of 60 days, DHH will sample the system again for presence of the ameba. In previous cases in Louisiana, this action has been effective in controlling the ameba, officials said.

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The St. Charles Parish Department of Waterworks fielded questions from members of the public regarding its water system in light of the Wednesday’s detection in St. John the Baptist.

“There is no reason to believe St. Charles Parish’s water system is at risk for the amoeba,” a release from St. Charles officials said. “The parish’s system is currently in compliance with all state and federal drinking water regulations, including the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital’s emergency rule for Naegleria fowleri. The emergency rule calls for .5 milligrams per liter of chlorine as an effective level to kill the amoeba.”

The parish’s water system serves residents in all communities, including Ama, Bayou Gauche, Boutte, Des Allemands, Destrehan, Hahnville, Killona, Luling, Montz, New Sarpy, Norco, Paradis, St. Rose and Taft.

St. Charles Parish has had a longstanding flushing program that allows the system to maintain adequate chlorine residuals. Since the amoeba was first detected in St. Bernard Parish in September 2013, Waterworks treatment operations personnel have increased chlorine sampling of the parish’s water system to ensure its continued safety.