Dept. of Water and Sewerage Explains Off-Color Water in Shreveport; Councilwoman Calls for Audit of Department

Off-color water cause explained, changes implemented

Shreveport, La. – If you’re a resident of Shreveport and have noticed your tap water appearing a little off-color, The City of Shreveport’s Department of Water and Sewerage has an explanation. In recent days, numerous customers have noticed discoloration in their water supplies after a series of heavy rains. The department has been quick to offer reassurance, explaining that the suspect cause of the discoloration has been traced to naturally occurring minerals which have been significantly impacted by the unusually heavy rain.

The department further clarified that there is no current need to boil water as the minerals do not pose a threat to health. Actions have been taken to adjust the water treatment processes to mitigate the visual effects and an ongoing control and adjustment process has been implemented. Customers should begin seeing improvement in the color of their water over the coming weekend.

Alongside addressing this natural impact, the department has also increased efforts to flush out the lines across the city, speeding up the renewal and improvement of the water in the system. Such action reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to the provision of the highest quality water for Shreveport residents.

Local councilwoman calls for department audit

Councilwoman Ursula Bowman, chair of the Audit & Finance Committee, has cashed in on the situation to address apparent concerns from residents over the department’s handling of numerous issues. In response to perceived problems with billing, extensions, and overcharges, she is calling for an audit of the department.

“As a representative of my constituents and the city as a whole, it is my duty to ensure that our public services are operating with transparency, efficiency, and fairness,” said Bowman. She expressed appreciation for the hard work done by those within the department to promptly fix issues and respond to weather events, but maintains that constituents’ concerns warrant a full review.

The audit will focus on the accuracy and consistency of billing practices, fairness of charges for water and sewerage services, a review of the criteria and processes for granting billing extensions, and overall departmental transparency. Bowman hopes the audit will assess current policies thoroughly and recommend necessary changes to improve service to constituents.

To get regularly updated on the water quality or for any concerns, customers are encouraged to contact the dedicated 24-hour customer service hotline at 318-673-7600 or visit the department’s website at www.shreveportlawater.gov/.

Final word

In conclusion, while the recent weather conditions have caused temporary discoloration of the city’s water, the water and sewerage department is working tirelessly to address the water quality issue and restore it back. Alongside these active efforts, the forthcoming audit is set to scrutinize the department’s operations in the hopes of identifying and rectifying any potential irregularities in their service to Shreveport residents.