Greater Ouachita Water company negotiating to buyout LWC - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

By Victoria Shirley

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - It smells and it's cloudy and for many living in the Millhaven Estates, it's the only water they have to drink and wash with.

Each morning, Larry Shaw brews a pot of coffee, but mixes in bottled water instead of tap, and if cooking with the water, he boils it. Shaw's family has been finding ways around their water that stains clothes and dishes for 13 years. "The water is milky-like, like white milk we let the water run for 15-20 minutes to see if it will clear up and it never does." said Larry Shaw.

Shaw says although he pays a water bill, he invests in bottled water and not once has he tasted the tap water flowing from his faucet. "Well I wouldn't want to taste anything that looks like milk if it's not milk, tastes like bleach. I could very much drink bleach out of the bottle if I wanted to do that." said Shaw, and that's not the end of his water problems. Shaw and his neighbors say when it rains, they have another issue on their hands.

"If it rains hard, we're going to have sewage in the street." he said. But Shaw's water woes could come to an end. LWC, the company who distributes the water and operates the sewage lines, could soon be bought out.

Greater Ouachita water company president Tommy sparks confirms they are negotiating a deal with LWC to purchase the company. The buyout could take the Millhaven community off of well water, clearing up the appearance of Shaw's water for good. "I'm sure there is something we can do to better their water qualities." said Shaw.

Greater Ouachita Company tells us, they hope to have an announcement regarding an LWC purchase by the end of the year. LWC did not return our calls for a comment.