Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 56 - PUBLIC WORKS
Part III - Flood Control and Water Management
Subpart 1 - Water Resources and Flood Control
Chapter 1 - Funding of Water Resources
Subchapter A - Priorities for Funding of Water Resources Projects
Section III-105 - Priority Policy

A. It is intended that the project priority evaluation and rating system provided for in this rule shall support the objective of the Louisiana Water Resources Program to provide an adequate and safe supply of water to Louisiana users through a policy and program addressing the short term and long term availability of and need for water. The priority system is to be used to allocate scarce state resources to the most worthy projects, and thereby assist entities in obtaining for their constituencies needed water supply and water pollution control facilities.

B. The provision of assistance by the state is not intended to supplant any responsibilities delegated to entities for the construction, operation and maintenance of water supply and water pollution control facilities. It is expected that entities shall continue to provide such facilities where needed and to pay for them to the extent of their capabilities. State assistance is intended as a source of funds for projects which otherwise lack sufficient local, federal and private funding, and as an incentive to provide water resource facilities needed to achieve statewide water resources program objectives.

C. Entities sponsoring projects are expected to seek and use federal grant assistance for project construction to the fullest extent such funds are available or expected to become available. It is specifically intended that priority funds shall not pay project cost share eligible for payment through federal grant assistance programs.

D. Entities are expected to finance water supply and sewerage projects without capital outlay assistance from the state to the extent of their capabilities. Entities should use ad valorem taxes, revenues generated from the project and private donations to obtain an optimum level of capital funds from local sources. The maximum level of state grant assistance under the program is 25 percent of the project construction costs.

E. The priority system is intended to achieve an equitable and fair distribution of any available funds considering needs of the area to be served by projects and the benefits to be realized in comparison to the needs of other areas requesting assistance. Past and present effort by entities to limit waste and conserve water are considered in priority assessment.

F. Entities may not obtain priority for funding of projects which provide facilities that over extend technical and financial capability to operate and maintain properly. Priority based on need shall not accrue to an entity because of negligence in the operation and maintenance of existing facilities, or failure to control wastage through appropriate water conservation measures such as consumer metering, leak control, etc.