Ascension Parish advances water feed tank rehab amid booster station supply delays

Ascension Parish advances water feed tank rehab amid booster station supply delaysCouncil members have greenlit mechanical repairs for a 500,000-gallon elevated storage tank and extended a major booster station construction contract by 303 days to accommodate equipment delivery hurdles.

Dixie Painting and Sandblasting secured a $466,801 contract for mechanical repairs and coatings on a 500,000-gallon water feed tank.

Command Construction received a 303-day extension for the Water Sector Program (Round 1) due to delayed booster station delivery.

The Parish renewed a $150,000 annual contract with Triton Controls & Engineering for SCADA system support.

Funding for leak and distribution repairs was increased by $150,500 to a new not-to-exceed total of $200,000.

The Parish of Ascension is moving forward with critical water infrastructure upgrades and adjusting project timelines following a series of unanimous consent agenda approvals during its March 19, 2026, council meeting. Leading the capital approvals, the council awarded a $466,801 contract to Dixie Painting and Sandblasting, Inc. for the Parish Utilities of Ascension Water Plant Feed Tank Planning and Construction project. The firm submitted the lowest responsive bid for the project, which entails mechanical repairs and protective coatings for a 500,000-gallon elevated water storage tank. Meanwhile, the parish's Water Sector Program is facing significant timeline adjustments due to supply chain and testing hurdles. The council approved a change order for Command Construction, LLC, extending the schedule for Round 1 of the Water Sector Program by 303 days. According to project documents, the extension is necessary due to the delayed delivery of a booster station and the time required to pass functional testing. The contract price remains unchanged at $3,645,363.20. In a related move, the master engineering contract with McKim & Creed, Inc. for the Water Sector Program was extended through May 31, 2026, maintaining its original price of $1,258,563.95. The council also authorized key operational and maintenance contracts. Triton Controls & Engineering, Inc. was awarded a one-year, $150,000 contract renewal to provide ongoing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) support. The contract will provide technical field and office support to assist the parish's growing SCADA team in managing critical drainage infrastructure. Additionally, the council approved an amendment to its master services contract with Joey Thibodeaux Drain Cleaning & Plumbing, LLC for water leaks and distribution repairs. The amendment adds $150,500 to the agreement, establishing a new not-to-exceed amount of $200,000 through the end of 2026.