Lithium Contamination

Lithium in Louisiana Drinking Water

Ranked by max lithium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 5 data (2023–2025) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

129

Cities Tested

129

Detected

100%

% Detected

22.2 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

303

Health Violations

Analysis

Lithium in Louisiana: what the data shows

Louisiana has 129 cities with lithium data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). Lithium was detected in 129 of those cities. There is currently no federal MCL or health advisory for lithium — the state average max detected level is 22.2 µg/L. Nationally, lithium is detected in roughly 28% of sampled water systems. Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in arid western states, and is concentrated in some surface waters near industrial discharge or geothermal sources. UCMR 5 added lithium monitoring in 2023, providing the first systematic national snapshot of public-water lithium levels. At therapeutic doses (administered as a medication), lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Chronic low-dose exposure from drinking water has been associated in some studies with effects on thyroid function and possibly mood. The most protective state guidance value is around 60 µg/L. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange are effective removal methods.

Comparison

Cities exceeding No federal MCL or HA

Louisiana

100%

129 of 129 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

2808 of 2808 cities

City Map

Lithium data across Louisiana

Each dot is a city with UCMR 5 lithium testing data. Detected cities are shown — there is no federal limit, though some states use 60 µg/L as a screening level. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lithium level in Louisiana

Highest Lithium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Louisiana cities ranked by lithium level

#	City	Level	Detected?	Violations	Grade
1	Alexandria	95.2 µg/L	Detected	113	F
2	Haughton	53.0 µg/L	Detected	27	F
3	Westwego	47.8 µg/L	Detected	18	B-
4	Broussard	46.6 µg/L	Detected	12	B-
5	Breaux Bridge	46.2 µg/L	Detected	34	D
6	Baton Rouge	45.6 µg/L	Detected	30	F
7	Tioga	45.3 µg/L	Detected	7	A-
8	Coushatta	44.6 µg/L	Detected	226	F
9	Boyce	43.8 µg/L	Detected	18	B+
10	Leonville	43.8 µg/L	Detected	17	C+
11	Keatchie	42.3 µg/L	Detected	32	F
12	Keithville	42.0 µg/L	Detected	44	D
13	Benton	41.2 µg/L	Detected	43	F
14	Opelousas	39.1 µg/L	Detected	28	C-
15	Sulphur	37.9 µg/L	Detected	24	B+
16	Lafayette	37.4 µg/L	Detected	42	F
17	Maurice	35.8 µg/L	Detected	15	C+
18	Lake Charles	35.7 µg/L	Detected	63	F
19	Rayne	35.0 µg/L	Detected	23	C+
20	Pineville	33.7 µg/L	Detected	15	F
21	Vinton	33.7 µg/L	Detected	2	B+
22	Fort Johnson	32.3 µg/L	Detected	13	A-
23	Lawtell	31.8 µg/L	Detected	11	A-
24	St. Martinville	31.5 µg/L	Detected	80	F
25	Parks	31.5 µg/L	Detected	15	C
26	Doyline	30.7 µg/L	Detected	67	D
27	Youngsville	29.5 µg/L	Detected	11	C-
28	Gonzales	29.4 µg/L	Detected	16	A-
29	Bordelonville	29.0 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
30	Hammond	28.5 µg/L	Detected	96	F
31	Bell City	27.5 µg/L	Detected	14	B+
32	Angola	26.5 µg/L	Detected	7	A
33	Slagle	26.4 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
34	Jeanerette	26.0 µg/L	Detected	24	C
35	Shreveport	25.9 µg/L	Detected	69	F
36	Welsh	25.9 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
37	Marksville	24.7 µg/L	Detected	21	B
38	Springhill	24.5 µg/L	Detected	7	B
39	St. Francisville	24.3 µg/L	Detected	9	B+
40	Lake Providence	24.3 µg/L	Detected	45	F
41	Lake Arthur	24.2 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
42	Lena	24.0 µg/L	Detected	5	B+
43	Jennings	23.9 µg/L	Detected	10	B+
44	Transylvania	23.4 µg/L	Detected	30	F
45	Eunice	23.3 µg/L	Detected	20	B-
46	Stonewall	23.3 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
47	Grand Chenier	22.8 µg/L	Detected	42	D
48	Iowa	22.7 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
49	Delhi	22.6 µg/L	Detected	21	B+
50	Ferriday	22.4 µg/L	Detected	259	F
51	Mandeville	21.4 µg/L	Detected	170	F
52	Deville	21.2 µg/L	Detected	1	A
53	Plaquemine	21.0 µg/L	Detected	26	C-
54	Vidalia	20.9 µg/L	Detected	3	B-
55	Walker	20.2 µg/L	Detected	7	A-
56	New Roads	20.0 µg/L	Detected	15	D
57	Egan	20.0 µg/L	Detected	28	F
58	Effie	20.0 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
59	Denham Springs	19.0 µg/L	Detected	6	B
60	Zachary	18.9 µg/L	Detected	8	B-
61	Ethel	18.9 µg/L	Detected	11	A
62	Westlake	18.9 µg/L	Detected	22	F
63	Mamou	18.6 µg/L	Detected	26	D
64	Albany	18.4 µg/L	Detected	16	D
65	Bently	18.4 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
66	New Llano	18.0 µg/L	Detected	21	C+
67	Port Allen	17.8 µg/L	Detected	19	B-
68	Belle Chasse	17.6 µg/L	Detected	112	F
69	Ponchatoula	17.6 µg/L	Detected	13	C
70	Tallulah	17.5 µg/L	Detected	51	F
71	Kaplan	17.5 µg/L	Detected	29	B-
72	Monterey	17.4 µg/L	Detected	5	B-
73	Slidell	17.3 µg/L	Detected	73	F
74	Leesville	17.2 µg/L	Detected	22	C
75	Woodworth	17.2 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
76	Loreauville	17.0 µg/L	Detected	15	B-
77	Homer	17.0 µg/L	Detected	27	F
78	Jonesboro	16.9 µg/L	Detected	64	D
79	West Monroe	16.8 µg/L	Detected	443	D+
80	Covington	16.7 µg/L	Detected	93	F
81	Rosepine	16.5 µg/L	Detected	7	B
82	Ville Platte	16.3 µg/L	Detected	40	F
83	Pollock	16.0 µg/L	Detected	17	C-
84	Napoleonville	15.7 µg/L	Detected	27	A-
85	Port Barre	15.7 µg/L	Detected	13	B+
86	Gretna	15.6 µg/L	Detected	19	A-
87	Bunkie	15.6 µg/L	Detected	16	D
88	Kilbourne	15.6 µg/L	Detected	12	C+
89	Greensburg	15.2 µg/L	Detected	14	D
90	Luling	15.0 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
91	Church Point	14.8 µg/L	Detected	14	C
92	Livingston	14.8 µg/L	Detected	7	B+
93	Bossier City	14.4 µg/L	Detected	109	F
94	Natchez	14.1 µg/L	Detected	23	A
95	New Orleans	14.0 µg/L	Detected	27	F
96	Alanta	13.9 µg/L	Detected	14	F
97	Longville	13.7 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
98	Carville	13.7 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
99	Jefferson	13.3 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
100	Many	13.2 µg/L	Detected	257	D+
101	Donaldsonville	13.1 µg/L	Detected	69	C
102	Angie	12.9 µg/L	Detected	41	F
103	Abbeville	12.8 µg/L	Detected	10	B+
104	Crowville	12.8 µg/L	Detected	4	B
105	Turkey Creek	12.8 µg/L	Detected	2	A
106	Lockport	12.5 µg/L	Detected	4	A+
107	Milton	12.2 µg/L	Detected	40	F
108	Carencro	12.2 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
109	Morgan City	12.0 µg/L	Detected	20	B
110	Duson	11.9 µg/L	Detected	12	C-
111	Basile	11.5 µg/L	Detected	32	A-
112	Abita Springs	11.5 µg/L	Detected	6	A
113	Zwolle	11.2 µg/L	Detected	229	D
114	Arnaudville	11.2 µg/L	Detected	44	C
115	Plaucheville	11.1 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
116	Convent	11.0 µg/L	Detected	30	B+
117	Centerville	11.0 µg/L	Detected	8	B
118	Lutcher	11.0 µg/L	Detected	20	B+
119	Cecilia	10.5 µg/L	Detected	11	B-
120	Laplace	10.3 µg/L	Detected	89	D+
121	Thibodaux	10.2 µg/L	Detected	27	A-
122	Anacoco	10.2 µg/L	Detected	6	B+
123	Houma	10.0 µg/L	Detected	6	B+
124	Gramercy	9.9 µg/L	Detected	61	B-
125	Scott	9.6 µg/L	Detected	12	C-
126	Baker	9.4 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
127	Grambling	9.4 µg/L	Detected	49	F
128	Ruston	9.1 µg/L	Detected	20	B
129	Franklinton	9.0 µg/L	Detected	25	B

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lithium in Louisiana

Is lithium in Louisiana tap water harmful?

Lithium has no federal MCL or health advisory. Some state agencies use 60 µg/L as a screening level. 129 cities in Louisiana had detectable lithium in UCMR 5 testing. Therapeutic lithium doses (used to treat bipolar disorder) are far higher than typical drinking-water levels, but chronic low-level exposure has been studied for potential thyroid and mood effects.

Where does lithium in tap water come from?

Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, especially in arid western states with lithium-bearing geology (parts of Nevada, California, North Carolina, Texas). It can also enter water from industrial sources such as battery manufacturing, ceramics, and lithium-mining wastewater. Geothermal hot springs are another natural source.

How can I remove lithium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis is highly effective at removing lithium, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Ion exchange systems and distillation also work well. Standard activated carbon filters are NOT effective against lithium. If you rely on a private well in a lithium-rich geological area, consider testing.

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