Act 263
Act 263 of 2017 Regular Legislative Session, tasked LDH to evaluate the issues and conditions of drinking water treatment and distribution through the evaluation of sanitary survey results for each water utility system by 2020. LDH was tasked to submit interim progress reports yearly until final report submission. The ultimate goal is to develop recommendations collaboratively with stakeholders, technical experts, water utility system owners, operators, community members and legislators from areas with known public water quality issues.
Sanitary Surveys are conducted per federal guidelines which require a thorough on-site inspection and audit of the management, operations, and physical condition of the public drinking water system. These inspections are performed every three years at a community water system (municipalities, rural districts, subdivisions, etc.) and every five years at a non-community water system (schools, restaurants, businesses, etc.). Additionally, surveys may be performed at an increased frequency due to excessive complaints, compliance issues and/or enforcement procedures. All findings from the inspection are documented and categorized as: 1) a significant deficiency, 2) a deficiency, or 3) a recommendation. The federal requirements define a significant deficiency as a defect in design, operation, or maintenance, or a failure or malfunction of the sources, treatment, storage, or distribution system that is causing or has the potential to cause contamination of the drinking water system. In accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, LDH adopted three new significant deficiencies and amended one existing significant deficiency in 2018 as approved by the Water Committee. The additional/amended significant deficiencies became effective August 1, 2018 and are included in this report (See Appendix A for the signification deficiencies).
Sanitary Survey Summary: In 2019, 729 surveys were conducted by LDH statewide. Of the 25 defined significant deficiencies (one additional deficiency is undefined), seven account for the preponderance of citations to Public Water Systems (PWS).
Deficiency Summary:
Pathway for Contamination / Water Source – 267 citations
Cross Connection Control / Backflow Protection – 195 citations
Maintenance or Repair – 94 citations
Pathway for Contamination / Water Storage - 87 citations
Groundwater Source Backup / Redundancy - 83 citations
Security – 79 citations
Standby Power - 58 citations
Sanitary Survey Summary: In 2018, 493 surveys were conducted by LDH statewide. Of the 25 defined significant deficiencies (one additional deficiency is undefined), five account for the preponderance of citations to Public Water Systems (PWS).
Deficiency Summary:
Pathway for Contamination / Water Source – 249 citations
Cross Connection Control / Backflow Protection – 139 citations
Maintenance or Repair – 77 citations
Security – 65 citations
Sample Tap – 64 citations
Sanitary Survey Summary: In 2017, 435 surveys were conducted by LDH statewide. Of the 22 defined significant deficiencies (one additional deficiency is undefined), four account for the preponderance of citations to Public Water Systems (PWS).
Deficiency Summary:
Pathway for Contamination – 132 citations
Maintenance or Repair – 57 citations
Cross Connection Control / Backflow Protection – 61 citations
Security – 49 citations
A full listing of the 26 significant deficiencies, number of citations and the number of public water systems cited for each can be found in detail in Appendix A of this report. See Appendix C for the specific survey findings for each public water system surveyed.
Appendix C:
Appendix C (All Parishes)
Appendix C: