By Sherri Taylor,
Journal News Editor

The Sparta Aquifer, the underground formation from which all of North Central Louisiana, some of Southern Arkansas, portions of Tennessee and Mississippi draw their water is dropping faster than it can be replenished. Written in black and white, the solution appears simple: use the Ouachita River or D'Arbonne Lake for auxiliary water sources in North Central Louisiana.

"But that's a major undertaking," said Richard Durrett, Chairman of the Sparta Commission and Lincoln Parish Administrator and engineer. New pipe lines, water treatment facilities and other complications make the idea unappealing to most communities.

However, the problem is critical, according to Durrett. A study performed one year ago by the engineering firm of Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix and Hixson (MML&H) in Alexandria proves him correct.

"We don't need to wait to implement these solutions suggested by the study," Durrett went on. "It's vital that we begin immediately."

Durrett called attention to the continuing effort to regulate and conserve Sparta water in Louisiana, during a presentation the recent Economic Summit conference of the Ouachita River Valley Association (ORVA).

Attention was focused on the problem with the Sparta Aquifer in 1997 when Lincoln Parish Police Jury President Jack Beard convened a meeting in Ruston, pointing out that the aquifer was losing volume. Few people had ever heard of the aquifer, much less worried about their sources for pure drinking water. However, the Ruston City Council had been suggesting alternate water sources since the early 1960s and even planned for it by having the foresight to acquire water rights when Lake D'Arbonne was built.

The Sparta Groundwater Conservation District was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1999, opening the way for the aquifer to receive government funding to first form the Sparta Commission and then study the problem. The goal was to find alternate sources of water for industry and large towns.

In the eastern edge of the water pool, salt water is creeping slowly toward the aquifer. Once salt water encroaches on the water pool, it will never be fit to drink again. A high volume of water holds off the seepage of saltwater, showing the critical need to keep the water level elevated. A similar problem developed near San Antonio, Texas where farming lowered the water table allowing salt to infiltrate.

"The people there have to use bottled water," said Durrett. They can use the salt water for bathing, but for little else.

The study performed by MML&H established the parish using the most water is Ouachita. Second is Bienville.

"Most wonder at Bienville ranking so high in usage," said Durrett. "Few realize that most of Smurfit-Stone's water wells are in Bienville Parish."

However, Michael Entz, general manager of the Smurfit-Stone Paper mill in Hodge said recently that the mill had cut water usage from 18-19 million gallons per day to only 9 million per day. The Sparta Commission hopes other industries will shoot for a similar goal.

The study found that the peak Sparta water consumption rate occurred n 1994 with an average total volume of almost 73 million gallons per day. That rate is unsustainable for the aquifer. The current amount pumped is 70 million gallons per day. By the year 2025, that amount must go down to 52 million gallons per day, in spite of increased population growth projections. Otherwise, the resupply of the aquifer will not be enough.

The Sparta underground water pool is re-supplied through two lines of sands running from northeast to southwest, beginning in western Tennessee, running through southeast Arkansas, northwest Louisiana and the other through north Mississippi. Water from rainfall enters the ground through these porous outcroppings, seeps downward through the sands to levels of 1,000 feet deep in some areas. However, this process can't keep up with usage at today's volumes. Some areas are showing a drop of one foot per year. In others, the water is below the top of the Sparta formation, showing loss of volume.

"We're not about to run out of water this year or next," said Thomas D. Hixson, senior consultant with the engineering company at a meeting in Ruston. "But over time, without conservation and alternative sources, there will be a problem."

Arkansas officials have already formed an authority and set ground rules for future water usage. In El Dorado, plans are being made to draw water from the Ouachita River in the near future. The new power plant built there will share infrastructure with the city. Magnolia, Arkansas built a reservoir for their water.

"We have no management authority as of yet," explained Durrett. All the Sparta Commission can do is recommend procedures to improve the aquifer volume. The problem is the cost. It's much cheaper to drill a well into the aquifer than to find an above ground water source, pipe it in and purify it. Some worry that the use of river water will cause levels will go down drastically and affect recreational boating, fishing and other activities. However, yield and treatment studies will prevent that from occurring.

"Sooner or later we will be forced to do it," Durrett said of utilizing rivers and lakes. "It makes more sense to do it now."

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