St Bernard Parish Waterworks

We're pleased to present this year's annual Water Quality Report. This document is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Safe Municipal Water Act to inform residents about the quality of water and services we deliver daily. (Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre su agua potable. Traduzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien).

Our primary goal is providing you with safe, reliable municipal water. We want to share our ongoing efforts to improve treatment processes and protect our water sources. We're committed to ensuring the highest quality water possible.

Our water comes from a surface water intake on the Mississippi River (ID #1087001-001). Sources of municipal water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water flows over land or through soil, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and may pick up substances from animal presence or human activity.

A Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) is available at our office. This plan evaluates a delineated area around our water source through which contaminants could migrate and reach our supply. It includes an inventory of potential contamination sources and determines our water supply's susceptibility rating, which is 'high'. To review the Source Water Assessment Plan, please contact our office.

The EPA prescribes regulations limiting contaminants in public water systems to ensure tap water safety. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water to provide equivalent protection. We're happy to report our municipal water meets all federal and state requirements.

For questions about this report, your water quality, or to learn more about your municipal water, please contact Jacob Groby, Environmental Dept. Supt. at (504) 271-1681. We encourage customers to stay informed about their water utility.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from materials and components in service lines and home plumbing. While St. Bernard Parish Water provides high-quality municipal water, we cannot control materials used in plumbing components. When water sits for several hours, you can minimize potential lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For concerns about lead, consider having your water tested. Information is available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov.safewwater/lead.

The Louisiana Department of Health/Office of Public Health regularly monitors constituents in your municipal water according to Federal and State laws. This monitoring detected regulated contaminants at levels well below maximum allowable limits. All municipal water, including bottled water, can reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some constituents, which doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk.

The St. Bernard Parish Water Treatment Division works around the clock delivering top quality water to every tap. We ask all residents to help protect our water resources—they're vital to our community, way of life, and children's future. For questions, please contact Jacob Groby, Supt. Quality Control at 504-271-1681 x 234.

1. What contaminants might be present in St. Bernard Parish water? The parish water may contain trihalomethanes (TTHMs), chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and trace amounts of hexavalent chromium.
2. How often is St. Bernard Parish water tested? Water quality testing occurs continuously with regular sampling schedules for different contaminant groups throughout the year.
3. Is tap water in St. Bernard Parish safe to drink? Yes, the water meets all federal and state requirements, though households with specific health concerns may want to consider additional filtration.
4. How can I improve water quality in my home? Consider installing point-of-use filters certified to remove specific contaminants, and regularly flush your plumbing after periods of low use.
5. Where does St. Bernard Parish water come from? The water is sourced from the Mississippi River and undergoes comprehensive treatment before distribution.