RESERVE — A new $34 million water system for LaPlace is needed to prevent 36,000 residents from losing water during high water events, hurricanes and breaks in the transmission line from Ruddock, according to St. John the Baptist Parish officials.

Area residents are being asked to participate in a survey to provide input for the project. A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 22 at REGALA Gymnasium to present the Water Infrastructure Committee’s recommendations and options.

After months of meetings by the Committee completing conceptual engineering for the LaPlace and Reserve water systems, Parish President Natalie Robottom convened a workshop with the Committee and Parish Council members to discuss possible options and funding opportunities to move the projects forward.

While the Reserve water system produces up to 3 million gallons of water per day from the Mississippi River, parish officials said, $11 million in upgrades are needed to remain within design limits of a 3 million gallons of water per day plant, provide redundancy and remain in compliance with state and federal drinking water guidelines.

Use of the Mississippi River as a source also provides a safer environment for employees at night and during emergencies. A new LaPlace water source from the Mississippi River would increase the treatment capacity in LaPlace from 5 to 7 million gallons of water per day.

The Committee includes representatives from parish administrative staff, the utilities department, the parish engineer, Digital Engineering & Imaging Inc. and CDM Smith.

The committee was charged, parish officials said, with evaluating existing water systems and developing short, intermediate and long-range action plans.

The St. John Utilities Department has recently installed a 12-inch connection to the St. Charles Parish water system for emergencies, televised and inspected well casing of Well #2 at Ruddock, completed a pump replacement and pump rehabilitation at Well #2 in Ruddock, replaced altitude valves at four elevated storage tanks, installed a second waterline connection on River Road in Reserve and is installing a 12-inch waterline under the Mississippi River.