City engineer curbs water waste, pollution

PHOTO: The Louisiana Rural Water Association recognized the Breaux Bridge Water Department for water savings made possible by a system designed by city engineering consultant Chris Richard (holding award, center). Also pictured are (from left) Public Works director Randy "Crip" Cormier, Alderman Gary "Bimmie" Champagne, David Guidry, Richard, Mayor Ricky Calais, Macey Alexander and Neil Angelle. (Karl Jeter)

The city’s water department has been recognized for its water conservation efforts by the Louisiana Rural Water Association. Designed by city engineer Chris Richard of Domingue, Szabo and Associates, the system ended the waste of 3.6 million gallons of treated water per year.
As described at the Aug. 11 city council meeting, the improvement reclaims 100,000 gallons of clean water used daily to remove softening lime, which is added, then filtered out to purify the water. Until installation of the innovative settling tank system in 1997, wash water had previously been piped into Bayou Teche.
In other business, the council returned to the discussion of the proposed ordinance to limit mobile home placement in the city. Several restrictions in the ordinance were reduced in scope, such as distance requirements from certain designated streets and clearances from existing structures. Other provisions in the ordinance, such as the grandfathering of existing non-comforming placements were clarified.
Some council members, particularly District D representative Glenn Angelle and Councilman Gary “Bimmie” Champagne of District E, remained uneasy about the ordinance. But legal advisor Chester Ceders reminded the council that changes could always be made, if needed, through future actions by the council, and the ordinance passed unanimously.
Also, the council authorized Mayor Ricky Calais to advertise for bids related to improvements to Parc Hardy and Carl Williams Park. Authorization was also given to take bids for a new street sweeper.
District B Councilman Howard Alexander was back after missing several meetings due to a health issue. Calais and the council expressed their relief at his recovery and welcomed him back.
The September council meeting date has been changed to Wednesday, Sept. 9.