Vandals threw railroad-side debris at the Oak Street pumping station overnight, rendering the drainage equipment inoperable.
The damage was discovered last week by Public Works maintenance crews during heavy rainfall from the remnants of tropical depression number five.
Located adjacent to a railroad track, the pumping station’s inner workings were snarled by the debris.
“The vandals literally threw rocks and pieces of wood over the station’s fence and down the float tubes, causing the float ball to dislodge from its rod,” Assistant Public Works Superintendent Chris Tregre said. “The float ball triggers the automatic start and stop switch for the pump.”
Vandals also spray painted names and graffiti on the pump station’s concrete.
The parish is having metal boxes installed over the float tubes at this and all parish pumping stations to prevent future damage.
This activity can easily cause street and/or home flooding, officials say.
St. Charles Parish officials continue to encourage the public to call the Sheriff’s Office at (985) 783-6807 or the Emergency Operations Center at (985) 783-5050 to report young people playing or even loitering around parish pumping stations.
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