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Grant to help protect area’s drinking water

Grant to help protect area’s drinking water

Washington, DC, September 10, 2018 | By Natalie Schwartz Staff Writer Houma Courier

A local agency will receive $250,000 in federal money to help build a new water control structure for Bayou Lafourche.

The grant, approved by the Delta Regional Authority, adds to the $2.5 million the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District has allocated for the project to help keep salt from the Gulf of Mexico from advancing north into the area's drinking water supply.

Bayou Lafourche provides drinking water to about 300,000 residents across Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption and Ascension parishes.

"Bayou Lafourche is an important source of fresh drinking water for the communities, families and small businesses in all the parishes throughout the region," U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, who represents southern Terrebonne and Lafourche, said in a news release. "This investment in ensuring its continued flow of critical freshwater is important for the safety and prosperity of these important communities in Southeast Louisiana."

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, who represents northern Terrebonne and Lafourche, shared similar comments.

"This quarter of a million dollars is an important complement to the tens of millions we are investing to improve the bayou from Donaldsonville to Thibodaux to Port Fourchon," he said.

It comes as part of a $1.4 million investment by the authority to bolster infrastructure across six parishes. Other investments include $1 million toward installing pipes at the West Monroe Commercial Park to improve drainage and $150,000 toward rehabilitating the Dudley Pump Station in Gramercy.

The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to help create jobs and improve communities in 252 counties and parishes across eight states.

"The improvements that will be made possible by the investments for infrastructure enhancements will impact the lives of our citizens in very real ways," Gov. John Bel Edwards said. "We are proud to partner with DRA and thankful for their commitment to helping our people build better communities for generations to come."