WaterVerge

Is Cameron, LA Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded B-, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: LA1023001
Overall Score
74.3 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#126 of 309 in Louisiana Top 63% nationally
Local Government
High data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
B-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
74.3/100
waterverge.com
B- 74.3/100

Cameron, LA — Water Quality Report

Cameron's drinking water received a grade of B- (74.3 out of 100), indicating fair water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,798 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 28 violations on record, including 26 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Cameron's water

Cameron ranks #126 out of 309 cities in Louisiana for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state.

Cameron relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.19 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration.

As a small community water system, Cameron may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 7 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
74.3 out of 100 Grade B-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
20.8/45
D
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
18.5/20
A
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
10/10
A
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Cameron, LA water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Cameron's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of B- (74.3/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,798 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Cameron

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Cameron's water quality assessment. Grade: B- (74.3/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Cameron's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Cameron's water system has 28 total violations on record, including 26 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved. 7 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MCLOther
Most recent violations:
Jul 2024 TTHM Resolved
Apr 2024 TTHM Resolved
Jan 2024 TTHM Resolved
Oct 2023 TTHM Resolved
Jul 2023 TTHM Resolved

Where does Cameron's water come from?

Cameron's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,798 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Cameron residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent Chromium)
Inorganic
Detected
0.19 µg/L
CA MCL (no federal MCL): 10 µg/L · 2% of limit
DetectedUCMR 3 Data
Strontium
Inorganic
Detected
551.9 µg/L
EPA Health Ref Level: 1,500 µg/L · 37% of limit
DetectedUCMR 3 Data
Molybdenum
Inorganic
Detected
6.94 µg/L
EPA Lifetime HA: 40 µg/L · 17% of limit
DetectedUCMR 3 Data
Compliance Record

Violation summary

28
Total violations
26
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Jul 2024
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

28 Total
1 Active
26 Health-based
27 Resolved
10 SNC
Violations by category
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
17
Total Coliform Rule
9
Consumer Confidence Rule
1
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jul 2024 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2024
Apr 2024 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2024
Jan 2024 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Mar 2024
Oct 2023 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 2023
Jul 2023 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2023
Apr 2023 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2023
Jan 2023 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Mar 2023
Jan 2019 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Mar 2019
Oct 2018 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Dec 2018
Jul 2018 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Sep 2018
Apr 2018 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Jun 2018
Jan 2018 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Mar 2018
Jul 2016 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Sep 2016
Apr 2016 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Jun 2016
Jan 2016 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Mar 2016
Oct 2015 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Dec 2015
Apr 2015 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
SNC Health Resolved Jun 2015
Oct 1999 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation Resolved Oct 2000
Oct 1995 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Nov 1995
Showing 20 of 28 violations
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D2 — severe drought

Cameron Parish is currently in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

6
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
20.8%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
6
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 1.0 ppb from 2004 (1.0 ppb) to 2024 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,798
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Cameron's water comes from

Groundwater

Cameron's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,798 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Cameron

System Name PWSID Population Source
CAMERON PARISH WATER AND WW DISTRICT 1 LA1023001 1,798 GW
Regional Comparison

How Cameron compares

Full Louisiana rankings →

Cameron's score of 74.3/100 is above the average of 53/100 among major Louisiana cities. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities.

Cameron (this city)
74.3
Jefferson
85.8
Lafayette
35.1
Shreveport
36.5
Louisiana avg
53
City Profile

About Cameron, LA

Wikipedia →

Cameron is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the parish seat of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. After sustaining extreme damage from Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008, in the 2010 Census Cameron was recorded as having a population of only 406, a 79% drop since 2000.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Cameron, LA tap water safe to drink?

Cameron's water quality earned a grade of B- (74.3/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #126 out of 309 cities tested in Louisiana.

What contaminants are in Cameron's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 28 violations are on record.

How is Cameron's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Cameron?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Cameron's water come from?

Cameron's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,798 residents.

What health violations has Cameron's water system had?

Cameron has 26 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.

Is Cameron's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Cameron uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 28 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Cameron's water compare to other cities?

Cameron ranks #126 out of 309 cities in Louisiana (better than 59% of state cities) and #9888 out of 15744 cities nationally (37th percentile). The grade of B- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Cameron's small water system affect quality?

Cameron's system serves approximately 1,798 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 28 violations on record.