By JIM BUTLER

Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is seeking bids for creating a private water system.

Offers will be opened July 16.

Envisioned for the system are a well, six storage tanks and booster pumps station. Notice of the bid solicitation doesn’t specify where the well site is anticipated.

A hospital without water faces extreme issues and a stable alternative potable supply is a key addition to emergency management inventories.

The necessity of potable water is obvious; that of non-potable necessary in a host of functions perhaps not so. 

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow was successful in having $775,000 allocated toward the project in the FY 23 Community Services appropriations. 

She noted:

“Multiple times in the past few years, natural disasters have hit Alexandria, Louisiana which have caused the hospital to lose access to necessary water supply. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because having access to a stable water supply is essential to maintain medical operations during natural disasters.

“Additionally, located in the state’s central evacuation area during hurricane season, it is important the hospital is fully functional and able to serve supplementary patients routed to the area. This project will ensure that the hospital will be able to continue providing life-saving medical care to patients without interruption.”