Extensive testing by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals-Office of Public Health (DHH-OPH), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirm the municipal water supplies in communities along the Mississippi river south of New Orleans are safe for human consumption.
Test results are showing no sign of contamination in the drinking water as a result of last week’s barge accident which released hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel into the Mississippi river. Communities in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes depend on the Mississippi river for drinking water.
"The extraordinary steps we took to validate the preliminary water testing results obtained last week confirm the drinking water is safe," said Secretary Levine. "This extra testing was important in order to provide reassurance to the public their drinking water is safe. We thank the EPA and our state partners at DEQ for their help and support."
DHH-OPH and the EPA will continue to test and monitor municipal water supplies in the affected area to ensure the water continues to be safe for human consumption, and to make sure the water does not become contaminated from the cleanup of the spill.
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