Louisiana Water Quality Report: 4,598 Violations Across 410 ZIPs
923 water systems · 410 ZIP codes · 4,598 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 923 public water systems serving 410 ZIP codes in Louisiana. The state record shows 4,598 EPA violations, 3,088 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Louisiana
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Louisiana.
Cities with Most Violations in Louisiana
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferriday | 143 | 5 | 9,382 | Details → | |
| 2 | Many | 116 | 5 | 8,818 | Details → | |
| 3 | Vidalia | 112 | 3 | 5,754 | Details → | |
| 4 | Zwolle | 97 | 3 | 5,042 | Details → | |
| 5 | Noble | 97 | 3 | 1,562 | Details → | |
| 6 | Coushatta | 85 | 5 | 7,366 | Details → | |
| 7 | Slidell | 79 | 12 | 94,837 | Details → | |
| 8 | Bernice | 79 | 2 | 2,621 | Details → | |
| 9 | Shreveport | 74 | 14 | 209,795 | Details → | |
| 10 | Ville Platte | 74 | 5 | 18,939 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Louisiana
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 1,421 | 176 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,051 | 107 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 489 | 148 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 439 | 179 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 388 | 164 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 376 | 64 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 312 | 141 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 307 | 49 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 94 | 22 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 81 | 23 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Louisiana has 923 community water systems represented across 410 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 4,519,358 people. The available records contain 4,598 EPA violations, including 3,088 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 67% of all violations in Louisiana. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 3,088 | 67.2% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 1,510 | 32.8% |
| Total | 4,598 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Louisiana have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferriday | 143 | 5 | 9,382 |
| 2 | Many | 116 | 5 | 8,818 |
| 3 | Vidalia | 112 | 3 | 5,754 |
| 4 | Zwolle | 97 | 3 | 5,042 |
| 5 | Noble | 97 | 3 | 1,562 |
| 6 | Coushatta | 85 | 5 | 7,366 |
| 7 | Slidell | 79 | 12 | 94,837 |
| 8 | Bernice | 79 | 2 | 2,621 |
| 9 | Shreveport | 74 | 14 | 209,795 |
| 10 | Ville Platte | 74 | 5 | 18,939 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Louisiana:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 213 | 213 |
| 2022 | 278 | 278 |
| 2023 | 245 | 244 |
| 2024 | 652 | 652 |
| 2025 | 655 | 655 |
Violations have increased from 213 in 2021 to 655 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Louisiana water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,051 | 107 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 489 | 148 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 439 | 179 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 388 | 164 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 376 | 64 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 312 | 141 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 307 | 49 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 94 | 22 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 81 | 23 | Yes |
| Barium | Inorganic | 9 | 4 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Louisiana
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 3,147 enforcement actions against water systems in Louisiana. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Louisiana has 3,088 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Louisiana?
Louisiana has 923 community water systems with 4,598 recorded EPA violations, including 3,088 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Louisiana have?
Louisiana has 4,598 total EPA violations across 410 ZIP codes. 3,088 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Louisiana has the worst water quality?
Ferriday, LA has the most EPA violations among major cities in Louisiana with 143 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Louisiana has the best water quality?
Several cities in Louisiana maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Louisiana drinking water?
Louisiana water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.