Programs

Ground Water Program reaches out to companies to volunteer

The Louisiana Office of Conservation’s Ground Water Resources Program, within the Department of Natural Resources, is using its ongoing discussions with north Louisiana’s Flakeboard America company on ground water conservation as the springboard for creation of alliance of industry in the area.

The Ground Water Resources staff has reached out to companies located in the three Areas of Ground Water Concern in the Sparta Aquifer area of north Louisiana, asking them to work with each other and the state to develop a Sparta-area ground water alliance and work to implement ground water conservation projects.

“I appreciate the proactive stance this company has taken in addressing the stewardship responsibility that government, citizens and companies all share in preserving one of our most critical resources – ground water,” said DNR Secretary Scott Angelle, who also chairs the Louisiana Ground Water Resources Commission. “It is crucial not only that we all take steps to conserve ground water, but that we continue to communicate on the best ideas for managing ground water use.”

Flakeboard America in Simsboro is progressing on a plan to recycle washdown water and rainwater runoff to wash down its site and replenish the ponds that serve as water sources for the company’s fire protection system.

That water is currently filtered through a series of weirs at the facility before being allowed to run off site. Flakeboard’s plan is to dam those weirs and route the wash water and rainwater runoff back to its ponds. The ponds are currently replenished with ground water.

That proposed change is estimated to provide a savings of hundreds of thousands of gallons a month of ground water. Once Flakeboard implements that change, the company intends to develop other ways to conserve ground water.

“We do feel that it’s very important for industry to step up and help with the Sparta,” said Joseph Perry, with Flakeboard America.

Building on discussions between the state and Flakeboard, and the company’s planned conservation effort, state Ground Water Resources staffers have reached out to other industries in the Areas of Ground Water Concern.

Georgia Pacific’s West Monroe site and Industrial Insulation in Grambling have already expressed interest in the Ground Water Resources Program’s call for a voluntary alliance on ground water conservation.

Discussion thus far has centered on the sharing of information, minimization, re-use and seeking areas of operation where water is used when it may not need to be.