PFAS in Drinking Water in Louisiana
What residents of Louisiana need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Louisiana Department of Health, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana has PFAS contamination from Barksdale AFB near Shreveport, NAS JRB New Orleans (Belle Chasse), and industrial/petrochemical facilities along the Mississippi River corridor. Louisiana's industrial Chemical Alley — the stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans with a high concentration of petrochemical plants — also contributes PFAS from fluorosurfactant use in industrial processes.
Where does PFAS come from in Louisiana?
Military installations (Barksdale AFB and NAS JRB New Orleans) are the primary military PFAS sources. Petrochemical and industrial manufacturing facilities along the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans contribute additional PFAS loading to both surface water and groundwater. Louisiana's shallow, alluvial groundwater is particularly vulnerable to surface contamination migration.
What should Louisiana residents know?
Louisiana communities along the Mississippi River face both military and industrial PFAS sources. The state's drinking water infrastructure challenges — significant portions of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer are used as drinking water sources — mean that PFAS from multiple sources can affect the same water supply. Louisiana LDH has expanded PFAS testing under UCMR5 monitoring.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination sources | Barksdale AFB (Bossier City), NAS JRB New Orleans (Belle Chasse), Mississippi River industrial corridor |
| Environmental justice concern | 'Cancer Alley' corridor — existing cumulative industrial pollution burden |
| State regulator | Louisiana Department of Health — Engineering and Sanitation |
| Health effects | Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disruption, immune effects, developmental toxicity |
| Effective treatment | Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) or activated carbon certified for PFAS |
Why PFAS Matters in Louisiana
Louisiana's PFAS concerns extend beyond military sources to its industrial petrochemical corridor. 'Cancer Alley' — the stretch of the Mississippi between Baton Rouge and New Orleans — already faces scrutiny for multiple industrial pollutants; PFAS adds another layer of concern for this environmental justice corridor. Barksdale AFB near Shreveport has documented AFFF contamination in surrounding groundwater. NAS JRB New Orleans at Belle Chasse sits near the Mississippi Delta with complex groundwater and surface water interactions. Louisiana LDH has worked to expand testing and provide guidance to affected communities.
Louisiana PFAS Regulation
Louisiana DHH participates in EPA UCMR5 monitoring. The state's significant industrial chemical manufacturing corridor along the Mississippi River (the 'Cancer Alley' region between Baton Rouge and New Orleans) includes facilities that produce or use fluorochemicals. Louisiana does not have a state PFAS MCL more protective than federal.
Largest Louisiana Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for Louisiana utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Residents in environmental justice communities along the Mississippi River industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, communities near Barksdale AFB in Bossier City/Shreveport, and residents near Belle Chasse Naval Air Station face elevated PFAS exposure risk.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in Louisiana
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the Louisiana utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your Louisiana utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
Louisiana PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
Louisiana State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
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 ↗