New water tower built in Maurice

MAURICE — Signs of growth, especially residential, are evident throughout the town of Maurice.
After all, Maurice did receive recognition earlier this year as the fastest growing town in Louisiana. With that, officials are working to make sure that rapid growth doesn’t outpace the town’s infrastructure.
A big step in the direction took shape this past week, with the construction of the town’s second water tower. The tower is located near the new water treatment plant on Beau Road.
“It’s very important to stay on top of our infrastructure as the growth keeps coming,” Mayor Neil Arsement said Thursday morning. “This is just part of it. The tower gives us water pressure. If something happened to the first tower, we could be in trouble. We will now have a back up if something were to happen.”
The $2.5 million project is being funded through a Louisiana Water Sector Program grant. The new water tower will hold 250,000 gallons compared to the 150,000-gallon capacity in the original tower, which is located on the north side of Maurice.
“That gives us more capacity,” Arsement said. “If something happens, at least we are sitting on 400,000 gallons of water as a backup.”
This move also allows for better access to maintenance. Once the second tower is online, Arsement said the first one can shut down for a short time to conduct any necessary work.
“If our old one needed service,” Arsement explained, “we couldn’t shut it down without any disruption. We can now swap from tower to tower when we have to have them inspected and cleaned.
“This gives us a lot more flexibility.”
The view of roof tops has certainly expanded across Maurice. Arsement estimates about 1,600 single-family residences currently within the town limits, with the population around 3,600. However, those numbers will both grow in the next few years.
“It’s not stopping,” Arsement said. “We have several subdivisions that are not completely built. We have another coming up right now. I just met with another guy yesterday. They are going developing a little over 100 acres.”
Along with the water system, officials are planning for other improvements to match that growth.
“You absolutely have to be proactive,” Arsement said. “I met with (Congressman) Clay Higgins. I’m actively seeking a sewer plant expansion. We’re not at capacity, at all, but a project like that takes three to four years. If we sit on our hands, we can reach a point where we outgrow what we have. I want to keep up with the growth. I’m actively looking for $8 million, and that looks promising from the feedback that I’m receiving.
“We’re going to continue to be aggressive when it comes to looking for funding, especially with us being announced as the fastest growing town in the state.”