Governor Issues Public Health Emergency For Town Of St. Joseph
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — St. Joseph residents are urged to find an alternative source for drinking water after Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a public health emergency for the north Louisiana town.
Edwards declared the emergency Friday after test results showed elevated levels of lead in two samples — one from a private residence and one from the Town Hall. Edwards, in a news release, said there were two other sites with elevated levels of copper, both at private residences.
The town has struggled with poor water quality for years due to a poorly maintained and deteriorating water distribution system.
Edwards says the Louisiana Department of Health, out of an abundance of caution, recommended residents use another water source to make ice, brush teeth or use in food preparation.
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