A winter storm blankets Zachary, Louisiana, and the southern region of the state with heavy snowfall on Jan. 21, 2025. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)
Freezing conditions across South Louisiana continue to hinder water access Thursday after an historic winter storm.
Overnight temperatures in the Lafayette region on Wednesday averaged 19 degrees, with some spots falling to 4 degrees, according to data from the National Weather Service. The deep freeze set in after about 9 inches of snow fell Tuesday across Interstate 10 and 12 corridors.
Water delivery systems in Louisiana “are not prepared for 4 degree temperatures. They’re not built that way,” said William Theriot, CEO of Milton Water System, one of six private wholesale customers that buys water from Lafayette Utilities System.
Low pressure in the LUS network north of I-10 has prompted a under a boil water advisory affecting more than 122,000 customers, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Milton and Youngsville, communities near Lafayette that purchase water from Lafayette Utilities System, are also under boil advisories, affecting an additional 28,749 people.
“The LUS system is at its limit,” the utility said in a statement sent early Thursday morning to its six wholesale customers. “Our reservoir towers/tanks are empty/depleting with no opportunity to refill them due to the current demand/pressures.”
Once temperatures fall into the mid-20s, customers with exposed plumbing are advised to run a tiny trickle of water from the faucet farthest from their property’s water intake in order to prevent pipes from freezing and breaking. That increased use has depleted the LUS water supply.
“Our pumps could not keep up,” Theriot said. When Milton’s plant went down, he contacted Lafayette Utilities System for permission to draw on its water resources. He said Lafayette Utilities System gave him the go ahead to draw on additional water to fill Milton’s holding tank, and Milton has since stopped using extra water.
With “higher than normal demand because of the winter storm,” according to spokeswoman Heidi Tweedel, Lafayette Utilities System experienced similar pressure drops, boil advisories and outages for customers across the system throughout the frigid conditions
The system hopes to get “some sort” of water service to its customers – direct and wholesale – within the next day while also maintaining proper water pressure to keep the system functional, according to the update it provided Thursday morning. Fully functional, business-as-usual operations aren’t expected to resume for about seven days, the statement said.
Youngsville Mayor Ken Ritter used Facebook Live late Wednesday afternoon to update his community on the ongoing water problems The city trucked in tanks of potable water to distribute to Lafayette Parish residents with their own containers, he said. They are required to have an ID that confirms their address.
More water tankers are on hand in case of fire as Youngsville isn’t able to rely on fire hydrants during the system-wide shortage, said Ritter.
Ritter said that while he was “just as frustrated” as many without water, the freezing weather proved to be an “unprecedented” situation that underscored the need for Youngsville to become less reliant on Lafayette to provide its water.
Youngsville is currently expanding its water infrastructure, with new wells and a water treatment facility set to go online toward the end of 2025, Ritter said.
Lafayette Utilities System said it has brought in all water production, treatment and distribution workers for an extended shift Thursday as they try to balance sending water to wholesale customers while keeping enough for “critical” facilities such as hospitals in Lafayette.
Tweedel said the LUS is treating its water distribution network as a whole rather than prioritizing Lafayette customers over its wholesale agreements.