SMART About Water
Case Studies of Trailblazer Communities
Background Information
Name of Community: Village of Georgetown, Louisiana
Community Contact: Mayor Danny Olden
RCAP Contact (and RCAP Region): Chris Brunson, Community Resource Group
Population: 301
Type of Water Source (groundwater, surface water): Surface Water
Type of Wastewater System: Municipal Package Plant
Interview Questions
What was the issue that prompted the development of a source water protection plan (SWPP)?
It was a county-wide initiative that got everybody on board. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality DEQ was a good source. There was no particular problem; it was just a group effort.
Who were the community leaders (sparkplugs) that got the project started and kept it going?
Mayor Danny Olden was a community leader.
What were the primary obstacles to developing and implementing the SWPP?
We pushed to have a county-wide ordinance, and that was probably the only obstacle we had. There was some resistance from the county government due to economic development issues.
What were the main elements in the SWPP?
We put into place an oil recycling site to try to have a place for people to take their used oil. The biggest thing we used in general is the homeowner’s packet on wastewater treatment plant management and record keeping. After we went through prioritizing our potential contaminant sites, we distributed those to homeowners.
What are the benefits to having a SWPP in place?
I think the biggest benefit is to prevent potential hazards that could occur with the surface water plant. Georgetown has such a small reservoir that any accidental spill at all would be detrimental. Educating folks that they use surface water was a big thing. These people learned where their water came from. We assumed a lot. This project has shown me not everybody is aware of how water gets to their faucet.
Where is the community in the SWPP process?
Getting the information out to customers is one of the last tasks pending. I feel like we’re, as a whole, just kind of going through some growing pains trying to figure out how to keep the community active. Researching more topics and staying on task is what we’re hoping to accomplish.
How long did it take to get this far?
It has taken about 18 months.
What are the next steps they plan to take?
I honestly don’t know where we’ll go from here. It depends on what the committee decides. How much more aggressive do we want to get on inspecting individual sewer plants or households? I’ll leave that up to the committee. We do feel we’ve gained a lot just by putting the literature in front of people.
Is implementing the SWPP a priority?
Yes, it definitely was a priority due to the size of their reservoir; they are very vulnerable.
What resources did they capitalize on (especially SMART resources) and what do they need to continue do the work they’ve started?
They have been giving out SMART packets. I believe they gave out literature to business owners in the area. They contacted each business owner about potential contaminants in the area and provided them with best management protection practices for businesses.
What advice would they give to a community about to embark on an SWPP?
Keep as busy as possible. That’s only problem we’ve had in this whole process. We’ve kind of run out of steam. We’re not as creative as we were.
Interview conducted with Chris Brunson, operations and management specialist, Community Resource Group Inc.