By Tiffany Flournoy
CULLEN, La. — Water service in Cullen will be shut off later this week for repairs to the town’s elevated water tower, according to an undated, unsigned notice with no official markings, as state records show a continuing pattern of drinking water violations and oversight concerns.
According to the notice, water service will be shut off at 12 a.m. Friday and restored by 12 p.m. Saturday. Once service resumes, customers may experience low pressure or discoloration, and a boil advisory will remain in effect for 48 hours following restoration.
The document appears to originate from the town but includes no header date, signature line, department identification or official seal or letterhead..
A check of the Town of Cullen’s official website made no mention of the planned shutdown as of Friday.
The notice states the interruption is necessary to complete essential maintenance to improve the safety and reliability of the water system and advises residents to store water in advance for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
However, the repairs come in the wake of a March 24 notice of violation from the Louisiana Department of Health citing a leak in the town’s elevated water tank and warning of a potential risk of bacteriological contamination if not corrected. Regulators said the issue must be addressed immediately and is part of a series of recent violations tied to the system.
Residents of Cullen have long reported discolored, foul-smelling water, complaints that state regulators have now partially echoed through enforcement actions, though no confirmed contamination has been reported.
At a March 9 town hall meeting, residents described ongoing concerns about odor, discoloration and rust buildup.
Residents said they were not informed in a timely manner about the planned water shutoff.
The March 24 state notice marked the latest in that sequence, citing a leak in the elevated tank’s influent piping and warning of potential exposure risks if not corrected.
State records show a series of escalating violations dating back to 2024 and 2025, including failure to distribute public notices and lead test results, failure to produce a federally required Consumer Confidence Report, and failure to maintain minimum disinfectant residual levels. In March 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also cited the town for failing to complete a required service line inventory to identify potential lead components.
The March 24 violation underscores what regulators describe as a continuing compliance issue involving both infrastructure and public notification requirements.
Despite the recurring violations, boil advisory notices are posted on the town’s website and social media pages and shared with local media, according to information included in the town’s public notices. A review of the town’s website shows advisories have been ongoing, with Cullen remaining under boil advisory status prior to the latest repair work due to low water pressure.
During the March 9 town hall meeting, Mayor Terry Hoof attributed some water quality issues to chlorine fluctuations and said water samples are collected daily and submitted for testing. He also said outside assistance has been brought in, though no comprehensive corrective plan was presented during the meeting.
A check of the Town of Cullen’s website on Friday morning showed no mention of the upcoming water interruption.
State enforcement documents warn that failure to comply with corrective orders can result in penalties of up to $3,000 per day per violation under Louisiana administrative code, underscoring the financial and regulatory risk tied to continued noncompliance.
The March 24 violation highlights a critical vulnerability: a leaking elevated storage tank, which regulators said could allow contamination if not promptly repaired.
For residents, the concern remains focused on access to safe and reliable drinking water.