Community Drinking Water Accountability

What is a water system grade?

Water system grades evaluate community water systems’ long-term sustainability to provide safe drinking water to Louisiana residents. Seven standards (categories) are evaluated for the water grade: federal water quality, state violations, financial sustainability, operation and maintenance, infrastructure, customer satisfaction, and secondary contaminants. The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) maintains data for all standards except standards for financial sustainability and customer satisfaction. Water systems are required to submit data for financial sustainability and customer satisfaction standards by January 31 of every year.

What is LDH’s role regarding drinking water provided by public water systems?

LDH administers the Safe Drinking Water Program in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (40 CFR 141-142) to ensure that safe, quality drinking water is provided by the public water systems. LDH oversees approximately 1,250 public water systems statewide by monitoring drinking water monthly for bacteriological contaminants (i.e., total coliforms and E. coli) and chlorine residuals, quarterly for disinfection by-products and every three years or annually for most other chemical contaminants. LDH also conducts physical inspections, investigates water complaints and performs emergency response tasks.

Why is LDH grading community water systems?

Act 98 (SB129 2021 Legislative Session) created the Community Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Act which required LDH to promulgate a rule that would establish letter grades for community water systems. The intent was to provide an accountability process to support drinking water sustainability for the residents of Louisiana. 

What is the grading period and scale?

Grades are based on the calendar year, January 1 through December 31 and on the following 100-point scale:

What method does the water system use to notify customers of their grade?

The final grade must be included with the annual Consumer Confidence Report (also known as Annual Water Quality Report) that is posted on the water system’s public website.  If the Consumer Confidence Report is not posted on a website, a statement directing the consumers to this website is acceptable.

How is the water system’s grade calculated?

The final score is calculated by summing (adding) the point deductions from the seven standards and then subtracting the total point deduction from 100. A maximum of 10 bonus points may be added to the score if the required documentation is submitted by the water system by January 31, 2023.

Where can more details regarding the water system’s significant deficiencies and violations be found?

This is available online on Drinking Water Watch at https://ldh.la.gov/drinkingwaterwatch and also on the water system’s draft Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) which can be viewed at: https://ldh.la.gov/ccr.  Final CCRs should be requested from the water system.

Where can I find more information about regulations for federal and state drinking water violations?

You can visit the following websites to learn more about regulations governing drinking water provided by public water systems:

• Federal Regulations: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations
• State Regulations: https://www.doa.la.gov/media/j3hnpfdy/51.pdf

How is my water system grade compared to other water systems in Louisiana?

Click each chart to see information about Counts or Populations for Water Systems:

My water system’s grade is an F for this year. Is my water safe to drink?

A poor water system grade does not imply unsafe water and does not pose an immediate health risk. A poor water system grade indicates significant concerns with the long-term viability of a water system and requires major improvement/upgrade in order to continuously provide safe drinking water.

The water is safe to drink unless you are notified otherwise by either the water system or LDH. Water systems are required to notify customers immediately when the drinking water is unsafe to drink. 

Why is my water brown but my water system has a B Grade?

Drinking water should be colorless and odorless. Failure to provide colorless and odorless drinking water by a water system is considered under two categories: customer satisfaction and secondary contaminants. The most a water system can have deducted for these two categories is 15 points. Color and odor issues in water are best resolved by contacting your water system as soon as possible.

Brown water is most likely due to secondary contaminants such as iron or manganese which are naturally found in Louisiana’s groundwater. Most groundwater systems do not have the infrastructure to remove secondary contaminants. Iron and manganese are unregulated contaminants that affect the aesthetic quality of drinking water.

Brown water can also be due to natural organic matter (NOM) that is also found in Louisiana’s groundwater. Again, most groundwater systems do not have the infrastructure to remove the natural organic matter. Water systems with high NOM levels can produce disinfection by-products, such as Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), which is a regulated drinking water contaminant. Violations of the TTHM maximum contaminant level (MCL) are part of the water system grade under category 1 – federal water quality violations.

What is LDH doing about water systems with a Grade of D or F?

For water systems with a grade of D or F, LDH is working with those water systems to return to compliance with regulations through the enforcement process, upgrade or replace infrastructure through loans/grants, and/or consolidate with another water system that is sustainable. In dire cases, LDH may seek receivership for the water system where the enforcement process has not yielded timely compliance with regulations.

Approximately 34% of the water systems with a grade of D or F have applied or have funding through the Water Sector Program and/or LDH Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program to address their issues.

Also, for water systems with a grade of D or F, LDH must notify the State Bond Commission, Louisiana Public Service Commission, Louisiana Legislative Auditor, and Attorney General to assist with oversight of funding, new debt and revenue spending.