Water issues in both Tallulah and surrounding areas in Madison Parish have kept residents second-guessing their taps over the last several weeks.

Friday morning, City of Tallulah officials said a water pressure issue that caused problems citywide and closed schools in Tallulah Thursday had been repaired.

City officials said Thursday the loss in water pressure was due to the failure of an emergency diesel pump.

“The pump has been repaired and although complete water loss was avoided, the City of Tallulah water customers will be under a boil advisory until samples have been cleared by the state,” city spokesperson Yvonne Lewis explained in an email.

Although the pressure issue was resolved by early Friday morning, city officials said the boil water advisory would remain in effect until further notice.

“We continue under boil water advisory,” the city announced Friday via a Facebook post. “Water should be boiled at a rapid boil for two minutes before consumption.”

The latest water problems in Tallulah come just weeks after customers of the nearby Walnut Bayou Water System found themselves under a “do not use” advisory following a chemical leak.

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) issued the advisory Aug. 15 after a water line break on Highway 603 near Verhagen Road resulted in drinking water being exposed to the chemical paraquat.

The advisory was lifted Aug. 22 after testing confirmed no paraquat remained in the water system. Walnut Bayou Water System conducted extensive flushing, removing the paraquat from the system, LDH officials reported.

Even with the paraquat out of the distribution system, however, customers are being advised by LDH to flush their home systems.  

According to LDH recommendations, all customers should flush hot water taps for 15 minutes, then cold water taps for five to 10 minutes. Flush ice makers, dishwashers and washing machines as well. Flush toilets at least one time. After discarding any ice currently in the icemaker, allow the container to fill completely, then discard the ice and clean the container before replacing. If the refrigerator has a cold water dispenser, replace the filter and flush the dispenser for five minutes. For dishwashers and washing machines, after flushing hot water taps, allow dishwashers and washing machines to run for one hot cycle and one cold cycle while empty. 

LDH said residents may need to flush over several cycles if they continue to smell a chemical odor or have discolored water.  

“The chemical odor is added to paraquat to warn of its presence,” LDH said in a statement. “The odor itself does not cause health problems. If the odor persists as you flush your systems, open windows and doors and run the HVAC system, window units, and/or fans to create air circulation and help with ventilation to dispel the odor.”  

LDH said the amount of paraquat in the system will not cause corrosion or other damage to pipes and it does not linger. Once the chemical is flushed out of the water system and household lines, paraquat will no longer be present. This means the drinking water will be safe to use and consume.

For more information on the continued boil water advisory, calls may be made to the City of Tallulah at 318-574-0964. The city is also posting updates regularly to its Facebook page. Updates from LDH can be found by visiting ldh.la.gov.