HESSMER,
LOUISIANA
WASTEWATER COMPLIANCE & INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Community Overview
Hessmer is a rural town in Avoyelles Parish, shaped by its railroad history and strong local ties. The town’s wastewater treatment facility fell into disrepair and was issued an Administrative Order by EPA Region 6 following three years of non-compliance. Moonshot Missions partnered with them to stabilize operations, support regulatory recovery, and build a long-term plan for compliance.
Population: 800
Watershed: Avoyelles Parish
Poverty Rate: 29.7% below the poverty line
Key Environmental Challenges: Infrastructure deterioration overtime
MHI: $34,313
Louisiana Average: $55,416
Topic Areas: Wastewater compliance and operations
Project Summary
In 2023, Moonshot partnered with Hessmer to restore compliance at a wastewater treatment plant that had fallen into severe disrepair. Following three years of non-compliance, the facility was issued an Administrative Order by EPA Region 6. Moonshot began by submitting a formal AO response and identified operational failures and mismanagement. The team led coordination between town leadership and EPA, and developed a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and a Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) report to guide recovery efforts. These efforts led to the hiring of a full-time certified operator and set the foundation for public ownership, long-term compliance, and operational sustainability in a historically underserved community.
At a Glance
CHALLENGES
-
Three years of formal non-compliance
-
No certified operator available locally
-
Misleading reporting from a former contract operator
-
Aging Sequencing Batch Reactor system
-
Limited planning capacity and consideration of privatization due to a small rate base
-
Submitted a formal AO response
-
Conducted an operational assessment to distinguish system failures
-
Created a 5-year CIP and CMOM report
-
Facilitated the hiring of a full-time certified operator.
-
Restored basic treatment functions
OUTCOMES
The Team
The engine behind the Moonshot Method is the key talent we deploy. Our goal is to bring experience and knowledge to the community through a team of peer advisors. This project was led by:
Licensed environmental engineer with over eight years of experience consulting water and wastewater systems.
Has twenty-one years of experience in public utility management in public water and wastewater services.
Expert in environmental compliance and water infrastructure with over twenty years of experience.
The Moonshot Method
PROFILE:
Identified critical compliance risks, incorrect reporting, and unresolved storm damage.
OUR METHOD IN ACTION
ASSESSMENT:
Evaluated the treatment processes and assessed operational breakdowns.
MAP:
Prepared a CMOM plan to guide future oversight and prevent backsliding. Connected Hessmer with vetted contractors and consultants.
MENU:
Developed a phased recovery strategy, O&M manual, operator training materials, and a five-year CIP.
LAUNCH:
Supported the hiring of a full-time, certified operator and transitioned the utility toward a model with long-term system resilience.
