YOUNGSVILLE, La. — Thousands of Youngsville residents found themselves without water Wednesday after a significant disruption in the city’s water supply. The issue stemmed from challenges faced by the Milton water system, which serves the majority of Youngsville through a wholesale agreement with Lafayette Utilities System (LUS).
In response to the water crisis, local officials set up a distribution point at the Youngsville Sports Complex, where a truck filled with 6,000 gallons of water was made available for residents to fill their own containers. Additionally, each family was provided with one case of bottled water to help meet their immediate needs.
According to Mayor Ken Ritter, the disruption began when LUS scaled back its services to the Milton water system, which serves 5,700 households in Youngsville. The system’s low water pressure, which began in the afternoon, eventually led to a complete loss of pressure around 4 p.m. By 10:30 p.m., pressure had begun to return, though it was still below normal levels. The city remains under a boil advisory as the situation continues to stabilize.
“Water pressure will take some time to return to normal,” Mayor Ritter explained. “It could take up to a week to fully restore service across the city, but we’re doing everything we can to ensure our residents have access to water for basic needs.”
While water has resumed, city officials have warned that full recovery could take days, with normal pressure levels expected to return gradually. In the meantime, Youngsville residents are being urged to conserve water to help rebuild the system and minimize disruptions.
Lisa Mallery, a local mother of four, was among the many residents seeking water at the distribution site. She described the struggle of managing without water for her family, saying, “We have four kids at home, so everyone needs showers. Everyone needs to flush. We have dishes and clothes to wash, and we just need water for everyday things.”
Mallery also expressed concern about her daughter’s upcoming 7th birthday, noting the difficulties the water shortage will cause in celebrating the event.
“We’ll do what we can, but it’s tough when you don’t know how long this will last,” Mallery said.
Mayor Ritter continues to emphasize the importance of water conservation and has pledged to keep providing water to residents as long as necessary. He encouraged the community to work together during this time of uncertainty to help speed up the recovery process.
“We’re committed to making sure our residents have the water they need, and we’ll continue to provide emergency supplies until the system is fully stabilized,” Ritter said.