What Happened to Cenla-EOM at Pendleton Water?
- Mike Stewart
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
To the Customers and Members of the Pendleton Water Association (PWA):
Recently, there has been significant misinformation circulating regarding the departure of CENLA-EOM as our water system operator. As a group of concerned PWA members who are close to the facts, we believe our community deserves the exact, documented truth about why CENLA-EOM's contract was canceled, and the specific actions by the new PWA Board of Directors that forced this unfortunate outcome.
The Crisis CENLA-EOM Was Hired to Fix
Prior to CENLA-EOM’s hiring, PWA’s water system was in serious jeopardy. The previous operator was failing to meet Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals standards, which threatened PWA’s ability to maintain control over its own water system. Documented records and board minutes from 2023 through mid-2025 clearly show that the previous operator consistently failed to hire necessary staff, actively misled the board of directors, resisted changes in operating practices and falsified regulatory reports to the State of LA resulting in a formal reprimand and probation of their operating license by the state for one year.
To rescue the failing operations, a PWA board member (Jerry Burnaman) recommended CENLA-EOM due to their proven resources and expertise. CENLA-EOM stepped in, and their operating contract officially took effect on August 1, 2025.
The Solution and the Contract
CENLA-EOM’s contract was designed to modernize and stabilize our water system. It covered basic operations, meter reading, and minor maintenance.
Crucially, the contract included a specific provision of $25,210 per year to install a state-approved remote plant monitoring system. This technology was the cornerstone of the agreement: it would allow CENLA-EOM to safely and effectively operate the PWA facility with fewer on-site personnel, saving money on labor while maintaining compliance with state regulations.
The Board's Breach of Contract
In October 2025, a new PWA Board of Directors took office. Inexplicably, this new board prohibited CENLA-EOM from installing the remote monitoring system—even though it was explicitly written into the operating contract and its cost was already actively accruing in CENLA-EOM’s monthly billing.
By blocking the installation of this essential, contractually agreed-upon equipment, the new PWA Board directly breached CENLA-EOM’s operating contract.
The Result: Forced Cancellation
Because the board refused to let CENLA-EOM install the monitoring technology, CENLA-EOM was forced to keep significantly more staff on-site than the contract planned for. This resulted in severe and entirely preventable labor costs for the operator.
To resolve the crisis the board had created, CENLA-EOM proposed a revised billing rate to simply cover the increased labor costs mandated by the board's refusal to modernize the plant. The board denied this necessary adjustment.
Faced with a board that breached the operating contract and then refused to cover the financial consequences of its own decisions, CENLA-EOM was left with no alternative. They officially issued written notice canceling their contract, effective April 20, 2026.
CENLA-EOM was fully equipped and prepared to operate the PWA water system successfully and efficiently. We want the community to know the truth: the direct interference and contractual breach by the new PWA Board of Directors are the sole reasons for CENLA-EOM's departure, leaving our water system operations at risk once again.
More Topics coming soon:
The new Operating company (M&M) and their lack of experience in surface drinking water systems and their dependence on the past (failing) PWA operator.…
Recent discovery: The past operator’s history of mismanagement of PWA funds…
How the new PWA board declined a 3.4-million-dollar grant for system reliability improvements…
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