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Water Utilities
318-251-8611
WaterUtilities@ruston.org
Water Utilities: Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the City get its water from?
The City uses water from the Sparta Aquifer as its sole source of supply.
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Is the Sparta Aquifer a reliable water supply?
Yes, for now it is. But the aquifer is not replenishing as fast as people are using it. To return the Sparta status to safe and reliable will take conservation efforts and cooperation between domestic, commercial and agricultural users. The Sparta will never “fully recover” to its original, but with planned use it can supply domestic demand for the foreseeable future.
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Does Ruston Water Utilities make a profit?
No. The Water Utilities Department operates like an enterprise, and the monies collected from water and sewer usage goes back into the system for operation, maintenance and capital improvements, such as water main extensions into previously unserviced areas, or for improvements to supply sources or treatment facilities. The budget for Water Utilities are reviewed each year to insure that the programs planned can be supported by the projected revenues, and if the long-term trend were to show an excess of revenues over O&M and capital improvement expenses, then that excess, or profit, could be returned to the citizens in the form of a rate reduction.
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What causes the occasional taste and odor changes in the water?
Occaisionally there may be a problem associated with construction, a line break, or stagnant build-up in a end-of-line main, but most often the “rotten egg” odors experienced are caused by a reaction of naturally occurring sulfates and micro-organisms in the water that can create hydrogen sulfate, or the “rotten egg” smell. This reaction takes place in water heaters where the temperature range is conducive to the growth of a strain of sulfur-reducing bacteria called desulfovibrio. This problem can most often be cured by flushing and chlorinating your water heater and plumbing lines. See the Water Production>Water Quality page for more information.
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Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals requires that drinking water must be tested and maintained to a specific quality. Residual chlorine is monitored daily and samples are taken every day at designated locations throughout the City and analyzed for total Coliform bacteria. These types of bacteria are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other potentially harmful bacteria may be present. Should the City detect a Coliform bacteria positive during routine samples, extensive flushing and disinfection procedures are performed and additional samples are taken and analyzed to insure that no bacteria exist in the distribution system. When the samples are clear, the distribution system is placed back into normal operation. Each year the City of Ruston is required by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to send a report to the citizens of Ruston about the quality of the drinking water. This report is call the Consumer Confidence Report (Annual Report) and can be found here.
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What is residual chlorine?
The amount of “free” or available chlorine remaining after a given contact time under specified conditions, and after the demand, or the amount of chlorine required to disinfect, has been satisfied. A minimum Free Chlorine Residual of 0.2 ppm is required by the Department of Health and Hospitals.
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Is it safe to drink water from a garden hose?
No. Substances used in vinyl garden hoses to keep them flexible can get into the
water as it passes through the hose. These chemicals are not good for you nor are they good for your pets. Allow the water to run for a short time in order to flush the hose before drinking or filling your pets’ drinking containers. There are hoses made with “food-grade” plastic that will not contaminate the water. Check your local hardware store for this type of hose. Also, hoses left laying on the ground may get contaminated with water standing in them following use, or they may even provide a haven for small insects, lizards, grass snakes. Always flush your garden hose before attaching hose-end attachments.
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What is sewer?
Sewer, also known as wastewater, is the water left over from normal everyday use such as cooking, cleaning, washing, bathing, toilet use, and personal care. Sewer is the used water that goes down the drains inside our houses and businesses. The wastewater or sewer portion of your utility bill pays the costs associated with cleaning all of the impurities that have been added during domestic and commercial use, such as food waste, human waste, chemicals, soaps, greases, solvents, and much more, and making it safe to return to the environment. The wastewater discharge from the City Wastewater Treatment Plant is discharged into Colvin Creek once it has been treated and disinfected.
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