At the border of St. Landry and St. Martin Parishes in rural south-central Louisiana, United Water System, Inc. has quietly served as the backbone of water access for Arnaudville and nearby towns since 1971. What began as a small nonprofit utility has steadily grown, expanding water distribution lines and taking on the responsibility of serving more households across the region.

One of the most urgent challenges in recent years was arsenic. A naturally occurring element in Louisiana groundwater, arsenic can pose serious health risks at high levels. United Water’s treatment system typically passed quarterly Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance tests — but failed repeatedly in the final quarter of the year. A long-term solution was urgently needed.

In 2021, United Water received a $1.1 million grant through Louisiana’s Water Sector Program to improve its aging infrastructure. To meet the required match, they turned to the Lending Team at Communities Unlimited (CU), which contributed $300,000 in loan funds.

The multi-phase project began with the refurbishment of two aging filters and the addition of a new filter and water softener. By February 2025, Phase 1 was online, followed closely by Phase 2 later that month.

“We’ve refurbished the two old filters, and we’ve also brought a new filter and softener online,” said United Water Operator Joseph Trahan. “Everything is in service now, and we’re running tests to fine-tune things — especially the chlorine and potassium permanganate levels — to get it dialed in just right.”

Additional improvements included upgrades to Wells #1 and #2, installation of master meters across the system, and the replacement of a dated control system. “We’re removing the old Allen Bradley panel and replacing it with a new system that will manage everything,” Trahan explained. “The only thing left is the paint — we’ll sandblast the tanks and pipes and then finish it all off. That part should take another month or two.”

Their Community Infrastructure Team remained engaged, continuing to assist United Water. In early 2022, former CU staffer Olivia Barfield initiated a deeper partnership by helping the utility complete a Technical, Managerial, and Financial (TMF) assessment. In 2023, Community Environmental Management Specialist Alex Goodyear stepped in to continue that work.

A routine site visit by Goodyear revealed deeper financial concerns, leading to a rate study that flagged a troubling 60% water loss. The first proposed rate increase was denied by USDA due to the excessive loss.

But United Water didn’t back down. They began tackling the problem head-on — replacing broken meters, fixing leaks, and making operational changes. They installed master meters throughout the system: at the wells, filters, softeners, and a main output meter to track overall water production and distribution.

“Now we can track our water loss down to a T,” Trahan said.

The board adopted a $15 monthly increase to the base rate, which went into effect in April 2025.

“This is the first month we sent the bills out with the new rate increase,” said Office Manager Kerry Hebert. “We haven’t seen the results yet, but it’s going to help us financially.”

The utility hopes to use the increased revenue for practical needs — like replacing office furniture and purchasing a much-needed used vehicle — while continuing to pay down existing bills and build reserves.

In addition to funding and technical assistance, CU has supported United Water with board training, financial policy development, and compliance documentation — ensuring the utility is set up for long-term success.

“Always phenomenal, professional, and friendly. We hope to continue working with you all. I have nothing but good things to say,” Hebert concluded about CU.

Added Trahan, “I like Alex. He’s sharp. He jumped into this and caught on fast. We were giving him water loss data, meter issues — you name it — and he picked it all up. He really understood the big picture.”

From infrastructure investment to financial planning, CU has walked alongside United Water every step of the way.

The result: a stronger, more resilient utility — and for the people of Arnaudville and surrounding communities, the peace of mind that comes with safe, reliable water.

“Customers are calling the office to say how great the water is,” Trahan added. “Based on our testing, the quality is excellent, and it keeps getting better. These upgrades should carry us forward for the next 20 to 30 years.”

Goodyear said he has enjoyed working with United Water, Inc. Although the company has faced financial and infrastructure challenges, he noted that by addressing water loss and adopting a revised rate structure, United Water has taken important steps toward long-term stability.

“It’s been rewarding to support their progress and see how far they’ve come,” Goodyear said.