Shreveport Water & Sewerage Director Steps Down

SHREVEPORT, LA

The Director of the Shreveport Water & Sewerage Department has officially stepped down from his position.  William Daniel announced on Wednesday that he has turned in his resignation from the Shreveport Water & Sewerage Department. 

Daniel told KEEL News on Wednesday his decision to leave is based entirely on family obligations and he is not looking forward to leaving the Water and Sewerage Department.  

Daniel has served as Director of Water and Sewerage for 5 years.  Some of his accomplishments include the water tank project where the city's water towers will be refurbished and repainted, and the installation of over 7,500 new smart meters across the city.

William Daniel brought steady leadership, focus, and deep technical expertise to one of the most complex departments in the city,” said Mayor Tom Arceneaux. “We appreciate his dedication and the steps taken under his watch to move the department forward. We are grateful for his service and wish him all the best in retirement.

Brandon Snead, the current Deputy Director of Water and Sewerage, will serve as the department’s Interim Director until a permanent replacement is nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. 

The Summer of Manganese

Daniel has certainly had his challenges over the past few years, including “The Summer of Manganese.”  The city experienced an unusually high amount of manganese in Cross Lake last summer.   The high levels of manganese happened because of “lake turnover.”  

READ MORE:  Shreveport Experiences Water Problems

What Exactly is Lake Turnover?

Lake turnover is a natural process that usually happens twice a year, in the spring and fall.  The lake water mixes from top to bottom. In the spring, the surface of the water warms up, the layers equalize.  And in the fall, as the water cools, those distinct layers disappear. 

The city released a statement explaining lake turnover: 

A lake turnover occurs when nutrients from the bottom of the lake rise to the surface, which likely triggered the current algae spike as a delayed effect. Cross Lake is a shallow body of water, and that alone presents many complex treatment challenges.. The department is aggressively treating the water to resolve the issue and will continue flushing water pipes to accelerate the distribution of newly treated water throughout the city.  

 

More details are expected from city officials about Daniel’s resignation later today.