Lafourche’s Parr pump back in action

Just two weeks ago, Lafourche Parish officials were sweating the viability of Lockport’s Parr Pump Station Bank.

A nearby levee was eroding and threatening to fall into the station.

On Saturday, Low Land Construction completed work at the site.

In February, the Lafourche Parish Council declared the pump’s status to be an emergency situation because it was unable to expel rainwater in Lockport and Larose.

The council budgeted $100,000 for the temporary stabilization.

As southeast Louisiana neared the peak of hurricane season, a special council meeting was called to accept Low Land’s $95,427 bid for the stabilization of the bank.

Without a quorum, the work was delayed.

Gene Robichaux, of Low Land Construction, said at the time the company was ready to move on the job site and get the problem corrected as soon as possible.

Since then, Lafourche Parish Director of Public Works Ray Cheramie said the contractors have driven six pilings into the ground around the pump station.

Initially, the council partnered with the North Lafourche Conservation Levee and Drainage District to fix the bank.

“The North Lafourche Levee District estimates a one-year window before the bank is permanently fixed,” Cheramie said. “We can’t wait that long. If the bank breaks in a high-tide situation, the water would flood Larose and Lockport.”

With the completion of work at the Parr Pump Station, Lafourche Parish has 50 workable pump stations.

With the stabilization of the Lockport Parr Pump Station complete, Lafourche Parish now has 50 working pumping stations. With hurricane season at its peak, the council was under the gun to reinforce the falling bank near the pump station. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN