MONROE, LA (AP) — The city of Monroe will be adding extra chlorine to its water next month as part of statewide precautions against an amoeba that has killed three people in Louisiana.
The News-Star’s Scott Rogers reports that the free chlorine burn will start around Nov. 12 and last about 60 days.
It's a precaution against Naegleria fowleri. That's an amoeba that usually eats freshwater bacteria but can get into the brain and eat it if it gets high up in someone's nose.
The amoeba killed three people in 2011 and 2013 — one in DeSoto Parish and two in St. Bernard Parish.
Monroe Public Works Director Tom Janway says the burn will be good for the system, removing biofilm in the water lines.