Rarely in life do we get second chances, but the Town of Ferriday will soon have a clear, flowing example of one.

After years and years of giving its residents absolutely no reason to trust the safety of the water coming from residents’ taps, a completely new water system is nearly finished — and long overdue.

On several occasions during the past couple of decades, Ferriday’s crumbling water system periodically has thrust the town’s residents and businesses into third-world country living conditions.

National Guard troops have had to bring in safe, potable water for residents during the worst of the water woes.

Discolored and questionable water has, at times, become the commonplace.

Fixing the problem required outside help in the form of a $5 million grant and a $1.6 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA’s involvement — and its insistence that the town have an outside, expert company manage the new system — have been invaluable and a blessing from above.

It’s incumbent on Ferriday’s leadership team to fully support the third-party management company, JCP Management, and be good custodians of the new water system.

We hope and pray Ferriday’s leaders realize the great gift they’ve been given — second chances are rare, third chances are practically unheard of.