FERRIDAY, La. — The high temperatures and dry conditions of summer usually give the water Ferriday draws from Old River a brown color and rotten smell. But despite a drought still plaguing the region, such problems have not happened so far this year, said many residents and business people who were vocal about Ferriday’s water problems during a boil notice that was in place for the town for 124 days in late 1999.

&uot;The water’s fine now — drinkable, and even smellable,&uot; said resident Debra Wilson. &uot;It doesn’t discolor laundry like it did, either. The whites are white for a change, and I&160;don’t have to use any additives.&uot;

&uot;I’ve been surprised,&uot; said Deede Dore, also a Ferriday resident. &uot;I thought it was fixing to get bad because it’s about that time of year, but we have the best water we’ve had in years.&uot;

For businesses that use large volumes of water, like Heritage Manor Nursing Home, hauling fresh water during last year’s water crisis was a logistical nightmare.

But such problems forced the town to make changes to its water plant, and Heritage Manor Administrator Tommy Massey that has resulted in the now cleaner-looking and cleaner-smelling water.

&uot;The water is just great … for the first time in a year,&uot; Massey said. &uot;The repairs and upgrading of equipment seem to have worked.&uot;

On Aug. 20, the town was put under a boil notice because its water plant kept shutting down, apparently due to operator error and lack of maintenance.

Repairs needed before the state would consider lifting the notice included repairs to filters and chemical pumps and replacing an operations computer. The notice lasted until Dec. 22.

&uot;I believe all that helped, and it was needed,&uot;&160;said Jerry Johns, owner of Big John’s Restaurant in Ferriday. &uot;Now, the water’s just fine … thank goodness.&uot;

Water Superintendent Derrick Wilson said that, more than anything else, combating the high levels of manganese with chemicals is the real key to clearer, clean tasting and better smelling water.

&uot;Our real challenge will be in July or August, when it usually starts getting really bad,&uot; Wilson said.

Whatever the cause, town council members — who are usually among the first to hear such complaints — say they haven’t heard of water problems so far this season.

&uot;It’s better than it’s been in a long time, and I’m so grateful for that,&uot;&160;said Councilwoman Dorothy Johnson.

Incoming Councilman Mitch Ashmore said his water occasionally has a slight smell, though he thinks the cause could be as simple as water pipes.

Still, he said he hasn’t heard water complaints — but he believes problems will resurface if the town doesn’t find a better source than Old River for its water.

&uot;We’ve come a long way, and that’s wonderful, but we can’t be satisfied,&uot;&160;Ashmore said. &uot;We’ve got to find a different source, because people deserve good water all the time.&uot;

Not all residents are satisfied with the town’s water, however.

&uot;At times, the water is still brown and smelly, mostly when I&160;run hot water,&uot;&160;said Christine Roberts, who lives in the Woodlands subdivision.