Nitrate In Drinking Water In Louisiana
What residents of Louisiana need to know about nitrate in drinking water — including how it enters water, which utilities have documented violations, and what steps to take.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is nitrate in drinking water a real concern in Louisiana?
Yes — Louisiana's sugar cane, rice, and poultry production generates nitrate loading, and the state draws a significant portion of its public water supply from the Mississippi River, which carries substantial agricultural nitrogen from upstream states.
Is this mostly a public-water issue, a private-well issue, or both?
Both public water systems drawing from the Mississippi River and private well users in agricultural areas; the Mississippi carries agricultural nitrate loads from the entire U.S. corn belt through Louisiana.
What is the main reason residents should care?
Louisiana draws drinking water from the Mississippi River for much of its population. The Mississippi carries nitrate from millions of acres of Midwest farmland through Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico — a nitrogen load that affects the river-sourced water supplies used by Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and other communities.
Key Facts
| EPA Nitrate MCL | 10 mg/L as N |
| Mississippi River context | Carries agricultural nitrate from the entire US corn belt — major treatment burden for river-sourced utilities |
| Local agricultural sources | Sugarcane farming in south Louisiana; poultry and beef cattle in north Louisiana |
| Private well risk | Agricultural parish well users should test annually |
| State oversight | Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) |
Why This Matters in Louisiana
Louisiana sits at the bottom of the Mississippi River basin, receiving water that has drained through the most intensive agricultural region in North America. The river carries significant nitrogen loads from Midwest corn and soybean farming, Great Plains feedlots, and countless other sources. Water utilities drawing from the Mississippi — including Baton Rouge's major water treatment facility and smaller river-fed systems — treat this water to comply with the nitrate MCL, but the treatment burden is significant. South Louisiana's sugarcane fields and cattle operations also contribute local nitrate loading. Private well users in rural agricultural parishes should test annually. LDH monitors public water systems for nitrate compliance.
Critical — Infants Under 6 Months
Do not use tap water that exceeds 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen to prepare infant formula or feed infants under six months. Boiling will concentrate nitrate — do not boil. Use bottled water or a certified reverse osmosis system (NSF/ANSI 58) until the issue is resolved.
Louisiana Utilities With Nitrate Violation Records
The utilities listed below have at least one nitrate violation on record in EPA's SDWIS database. Violations may be open or resolved — see individual utility pages for current status and risk level.
New Orleans Carrollton Water Works
Louisiana · 334,903 served
E Jefferson Ww District 1
Louisiana · 275,163 served
W Jefferson Ww District 2
Louisiana · 140,264 served
Schriever Water Treatment Service Area
Louisiana · 116,460 served
City of Bossier City Water System
Louisiana · 78,960 served
City of Alexandria Water System
Louisiana · 66,798 served
St Charles Parish Dept of Waterworks
Louisiana · 52,879 served
New Orleans Algiers Water Works
Louisiana · 52,785 served
St Bernard Parish Waterworks
Louisiana · 44,783 served
Slidell Water Supply
Louisiana · 35,547 served
How Nitrate Gets Into Drinking Water
Agricultural fertilizer and manure runoff
Nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste applied to Louisiana cropland can leach into groundwater or run off into surface water supplies. This is the dominant nitrate pathway in most agricultural regions.
Septic system effluent
Failing or poorly sited septic systems release nitrogen-rich wastewater near drinking water wells. Rural areas with high well density and aging septic infrastructure face elevated risk.
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
Large livestock facilities generate significant waste. Lagoon leaks and overapplication of manure to nearby fields can create localized nitrate hotspots in groundwater.
Natural geological deposits
In some regions, naturally occurring nitrogen compounds in soil and bedrock contribute background nitrate levels to groundwater independent of agricultural activity.
Who Should Pay Closest Attention
Public water utility customers in communities drawing from the Mississippi River should review their annual Consumer Confidence Report for nitrate monitoring data. Private well users in Louisiana's agricultural parishes — particularly in sugar country south of Baton Rouge and poultry areas in north Louisiana — should test annually.
Households with infants under six months
Pregnant residents
Private well owners in agricultural areas
Households near livestock operations or CAFOs
Rural residents on shallow groundwater wells
Households with older or failing septic systems nearby
How to Check Your Situation in Louisiana
- 1
Identify your water utility. Use the ZIP lookup below or browse the Louisiana utility directory on this site.
- 2
Read your utility's page on this site to see its current risk level and any open nitrate violations.
- 3
Review your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — mailed annually or available on the utility's website. It must disclose any MCL exceedances.
- 4
If you are on a private well, arrange testing at a Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)-certified lab. Your state health department maintains a list of certified labs. Annual testing is recommended in agricultural areas.
- 5
If you have an infant under six months, use bottled water or a certified RO system (NSF/ANSI 58) immediately as a precautionary measure — do not wait for test results if you are in a high-risk area.
- 6
If your utility issues a nitrate exceedance notice, follow their guidance and do not use tap water for infants until the issue is resolved.
Treatment Options
Carbon filters and boiling do not remove nitrate. Only the options below are effective.
NSF/ANSI Standard 58 — Reverse Osmosis
RO systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58 reduce nitrate by 85–95% at the point of use. Under-sink installation required. The most practical residential option for nitrate concerns.
Distillation
Distillation units effectively remove nitrate along with most other dissolved contaminants. Suitable for drinking and cooking water — not whole-house use.
Anion Exchange
Ion exchange systems designed for nitrate removal exchange nitrate ions for chloride on a resin bed. Effective as a point-of-entry system; requires periodic regeneration and monitoring.
Carbon filters do NOT remove nitrate
Standard pitcher filters, faucet filters, and under-sink carbon units — including those certified NSF/ANSI 42 or 53 — do not remove nitrate. Do not use these for nitrate reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Nitrate — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with nitrate records
Louisiana State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Lead in Drinking Water
A separate but common concern
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 85–95% of nitrate
Well Water Guide
Private well testing and safety
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
Find Your Utility
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Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) ↗