Clean Water Task Force in Shreveport, House approved

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — A resolution to create the ‘Clean Water Task Force’ to study Shreveport’s public water system and report findings has been filed and passed the House today.

According to House Resolution 381, the goal of the Safe Water Drinking Program is to ‘prevent illness and death that can occur from waterborne disease outbreaks or chemical exposure associated with contaminated drinking water.’

HR 381 says the ‘task force shall evaluate the current condition, infrastructure, management, and sustainability of Shreveport’s public water systems and provide recommendations to improve reliability, water quality, affordability, and long-term resilience.’

The resolution was adopted on June 12 with 90 yeas and zero nays, authored by Louisiana Representative Joy Walters for District 4 (D-Shreveport) and co-authored by Representative Tehmi Jahi Chassion for District 44 (D-Lafayette).

Walters lists the members of the task force, which includes the following individuals:

• The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) or his designee.
• The vice president of external affairs of the Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) or his designee.
• The chief executive officer of Axom Development Company or his designee.
• A representative of the City of Shreveport appointed by the governor.
• A representative of the City of Shreveport appointed by the speaker of the House.
• One appointee from the City of Shreveport Water and Sewage Department appointed by the mayor of Shreveport.
• The dean of the school of Allied Health from Ochsner LSUS Health System or his designee.
• The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) or his designee.
• Two representatives of the city of Shreveport appointed by the mayor of Shreveport.

The state’s Safe Water Drinking Program (SWDP) also monitors, inspects, and reviews engineering plans. The Department of Health notes that Safe Drinking Water Fee as of January 1, 2017, the fee increased from $3.20 per connection per year for community water systems to $12 per connection per year, minus 5% per connection to be retained by the water system.

Additionally, HR381 proposes that the members of the Bossier/Shreveport Community Renewal shall provide staff support.

The resolution states that the SWDP’s task force is to be appointed by July 1, 2025, and that the first public monthly hearing is to be held by September 2, 2025, and continue until March 1, 2026.