It’s a new day in Melville as the St. Landry Parish community is overhauling its 60-year-old water system. The city’s outgoing water system was built on deteriorating pipes and a single overworked well, and Mayor Caretta Robertson says it was costing the town lots of money to keep it suitable for consumption.
“We were spending more money on closings to make sure the water stayed clean for our residents here in the town. It was old piping that had been here for a long time,” Robertson noted.
Mayor Robertson says in addition to more reliable water service, the overhaul will yield a much more fair billing system for residents and will prevent unauthorized usage.
“This project is bringing us water meters in town also, so our elderly people won’t be spending so much on water at a flat rate like our younger people would be,” Robertson explained.
The project is being supported by a grant of more than $4 million from the USDA’s Rural Development Program. Robertson says she’s excited that the town will finally be getting a modern, safe water system.
“I’m overwhelmed with it. Everything that we’ll be getting: the water well, the chlorine, the new pipes; I can’t say any more. I’m so happy. I’m trying to get my words out,” Robertson said.
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