Utilities Frequently Asked Questions
You may call our office at (985) 276-6400. Our normal business hours are 8 AM to 4:30
PM, Monday through Friday. You may also call this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week for emergency assistance.
Total Coliform Bacteria: Samples are submitted by Tammany Utilities to the LDH on a monthly basis. Coliform bacteria are used as indicator organisms in water analyses and their presence indicates a potential health risk. This bacteria is common in animals, plants and soils. The most common of these bacteria, E. coli, is found in the fecal material of humans and other warm blooded animals. People with immune system deficiencies and infants are at highest risk for disease associated with this type of bacteria. In the event of a positive water sample, the system is disinfected and sampled again. Subsequent positive samples upon resampling will prompt Tammany Utilities to mail a letter to your home informing you of the potential presence of bacteria in your water. This is mandated under Federal law regulations as a right to know policy for the consumer. Your water system’s sample results are included in the Consumer Confidence Report.
Disinfectant Byproduct Sampling: These samples are taken by Tammany Utilities biannually or quarterly, depending on the water system population. Water samples are analyzed by a certified laboratory and results are sent to LADHH. Disinfection Byproducts are caused by disinfectants (in this case chlorine) reacting with natural organic and inorganic matter in the drinking water. Two groups of disinfectant byproducts are tested: Trihalomethanes (THMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs). There are nervous system and cancer risks associated with disinfectant byproducts and that is why this rule was implemented in 2004.
Lead (Pb) & Copper (Cu) Rule: These samples are taken by the homeowner every three years and Tammany Utilities submits them to LADHH. Residences are chosen by Tammany Utilities and approved by LADHH. In order for the Lead & Copper tests to be conclusive; the sample sites (addresses) must remain the same. The number of sample
sites depends on the population served by the water system. Drinking water can sometimes be corrosive to household plumbing and may cause lead & copper pipes to disintegrate over a long period of time. Water that contains traces of lead and copper has potential health effects. Exposure to lead can cause brain and kidney damage, as well as affect red blood cells. Pregnant women and young children are of highest risk. Copper causes kidney and liver damage, along with gastrointestinal problems. The results of your water system’s lead and copper testing can be obtained from Tammany Utilities.
Arsenic Rule: Tammany Utilities is proactively sampling for arsenic even though this mandatory rule does not go into effect until 2006. All of our investigative samples show Tammany Utilities water systems to contain non-detected amounts of arsenic.
Iron and manganese may cause a rust color or black particles. Manganese, a nontoxic substance frequently occurs in nature, dissolves in groundwater and is colorless. When it combines with chlorine in the water as it comes to your home it turns black. You may want to consider using a filter to remove manganese from the water in your home.
Copper pipes or a low pH may cause your water to appear blue-green or leave blue-green stains on tubs, toilets, sinks, etc. Also, if your water is a milky color, there may be air in your lines. The water will clear if you let it sit for a while.
Another reason you could experience “tea” colored water is when a hydrant is used, or there is a line break. These situations usually create pockets of discoloration that can be cleared by running your water for 2-3 minutes. If the water does not clear, please call our office.
Department of Utilities personnel and the fire department are the only ones authorized to use fire hydrants. Contractors may be allowed to use designated fire hydrants once approved and a meter is attached by the Department of Utilities, meters may not be moved without prior approval by the department.
If you ever see someone other than the fire department using a hydrant near your home, please call our office immediately so that we may investigate.
Unauthorized users will be charged with a tampering fee.
Hydrogen Sulfide can exist naturally in groundwater and it can cause your water to have that sulfur or rotten egg smell. If a house is vacant or the water in a certain part of the home is not used for an extended period of time, you may notice the smell when you first use the water. Flush the lines to bring in fresh water and to clear out the stagnant water that was in the lines.
When Tammany Utilities says they will be “Flushing the System,” it refers to the process of opening the water valves and hydrants of the water system to allow water to flow through and scour the pipes. Flushing is performed by the Tammany Utilities water servicemen. Typically, flushing takes place when minerals or sediment deposited in the pipe have caused discoloration of the water. We do not recommend washing clothes during flushing events.
All of Tammany Utilities’ water systems obtain water from wells drilled into the ground. Water is recovered from underground aquifers. From the ground, water is disinfected and pumped into a storage tank. The water is distributed through a series of pipes into your home.
St. Tammany Parish Government Department of Utilities does not test or service any private water wells.
For more information on testing private wells, contact the Louisiana Department of Health at 1-888-293-7020 or visit Well Testing Information | La Dept. of Health.
No, Tammany Utilities does not treat the water with fluoride. There is a very minimal amount of fluoride that naturally occurs in the groundwater.
A boil order is implemented when contaminate levels have been exceeded. The water must be boiled rapidly for one whole minute in order to assure safe drinking water.
A boil advisory is a precautionary notification when contaminate levels are feared to have been exceeded. The water should be boiled in case of suspected bacteria.
All of the Department of Utilities water systems are treated with sodium hypochlorite and run a free chlorine system with the exception of the Cross Gates and Meadow Lakes water systems, which utilize chloramines for disinfection. The Department of Utilities recommends that you contact a reputable aquatic or pet/fish store on how to treat your water. Please use the "Who Is My Provider?" page if you are unsure of which system you are in.
Louisiana Department of Health– www.ldh.la.gov
Environmental Protection Agency – www.epa.gov
Department of Natural Resources – www.dnr.louisiana.gov
U.S. Geological Survey – www.usgs.gov
H2ouse Water Saver Home – www.h2ouse.org
No, the smoke that is used is non-toxic to you, your pets or your plants. Further, it will not harm clothing, drapes, or furniture. With that said, residents should avoid inhaling the smoke as it may cause irritation to the air passages. The Material Safety Data Sheet is available at our office at 350 N. Military Road in Slidell for anyone who would like to review it.
- Vents connected to your building's sewer pipe are inadequate, defective or improperly installed;
- Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective, improperly installed or missing; or
- Pipe, connections and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under your building are damaged, defective, have clean out plugs missing or are improperly installed.
If you do see or smell smoke in your structure, open your windows and doors for ventilation. The smoke will soon dissipate.
Insulate your exposed pipes. Wrap them with foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves. You can also use rags or newspaper. Be sure to wrap the pipes with at least an inch of those materials, then cover them with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep them dry.
A little water goes a long way. As outdoor temperatures approach 32 degrees, turn on the indoor faucet farthest away from your water meter. Run only one faucet with no more than a trickle of water, about as thin as a standard strand of spaghetti, to minimize the chance of water freezing in your pipes.
Do not run more than one faucet, and do not run any faucet at full blast. It is unnecessary and can be expensive for customers. It can also contribute to lower water pressures across the water system, risking the potential for a precautionary boil water advisory.
Once temperatures climb above the freezing point, be sure to turn off your taps. Running them at temperatures above 32 degrees does not protect your pipes in any way.
Open interior doors to allow heat to pass from room to room.
Disconnect garden hoses.
