PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Louisiana Drinking Water

Ranked by number of PFAS compounds detected · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

168

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

1.2 compounds

State Avg

▼ 17% vs national

vs National

303

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Louisiana: what the data shows

Louisiana has 168 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 141 of those cities (84%), with some cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is better than the national average. 6 cities exceed the EPA MCL for at least one PFAS compound. PFAS are linked to cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues. The 2024 EPA rule requires water systems exceeding the MCL to notify customers and reduce levels by 2029. PFAS data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5), which required large water systems to test for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023–2025. Not all systems have completed testing — cities without data may still have PFAS present.

Comparison

Cities exceeding EPA MCL (4 ppt each)

Louisiana

6 of 168 cities

← ▼ 17% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1662 of 7853 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Louisiana

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. PFAS-tested cities are shown; those exceeding the 4 ppt EPA MCL appear in red. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by pfas level in Louisiana

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Louisiana cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Vidalia	9 compounds	Yes	3	B-
2	New Orleans	7 compounds	Yes	27	F
3	Plaquemine	6 compounds	Yes	26	C-
4	Parks	5 compounds	Yes	15	C
5	Houma	4 compounds	No	6	B+
6	Donaldsonville	4 compounds	Yes	69	C
7	Laplace	3 compounds	No	89	D+
8	Benton	3 compounds	No	43	F
9	Belle Chasse	3 compounds	Yes	112	F
10	Napoleonville	3 compounds	No	27	A-
11	Patterson	3 compounds	No	13	B-
12	Jefferson	2 compounds	No	2	A-
13	Shreveport	2 compounds	No	69	F
14	Covington	2 compounds	No	93	F
15	Lockport	2 compounds	No	4	A+
16	Luling	2 compounds	No	2	A-
17	Abbeville	2 compounds	No	10	B+
18	New Roads	2 compounds	No	15	D
19	Many	2 compounds	No	257	D+
20	Gretna	2 compounds	No	19	A-
21	Convent	2 compounds	No	30	B+
22	Farmerville	2 compounds	No	335	D
23	Jeanerette	2 compounds	No	24	C
24	Centerville	2 compounds	No	8	B
25	Lutcher	2 compounds	No	20	B+
26	Gramercy	2 compounds	No	61	B-
27	Baton Rouge	1 compounds	No	30	F
28	Lafayette	1 compounds	No	42	F
29	Lake Charles	1 compounds	No	63	F
30	West Monroe	1 compounds	No	443	D+
31	Hammond	1 compounds	No	96	F
32	Denham Springs	1 compounds	No	6	B
33	Bossier City	1 compounds	No	109	F
34	Alexandria	1 compounds	No	113	F
35	Monroe	1 compounds	No	64	F
36	Mandeville	1 compounds	No	170	F
37	Slidell	1 compounds	No	73	F
38	Sulphur	1 compounds	No	24	B+
39	Ruston	1 compounds	No	20	B
40	Opelousas	1 compounds	No	28	C-
41	Zachary	1 compounds	No	8	B-
42	Port Allen	1 compounds	No	19	B-
43	Natchitoches	1 compounds	No	20	A
44	Maurice	1 compounds	No	15	C+
45	Pineville	1 compounds	No	15	F
46	Longville	1 compounds	No	5	A-
47	Fort Johnson	1 compounds	No	13	A-
48	Ville Platte	1 compounds	No	40	F
49	Tioga	1 compounds	No	7	A-
50	Broussard	1 compounds	No	12	B-
51	Youngsville	1 compounds	No	11	C-
52	Duson	1 compounds	No	12	C-
53	Mansfield	1 compounds	No	191	F
54	Marksville	1 compounds	No	21	B
55	Gonzales	1 compounds	No	16	A-
56	Rayne	1 compounds	No	23	C+
57	Walker	1 compounds	No	7	A-
58	Morgan City	1 compounds	No	20	B
59	Thibodaux	1 compounds	No	27	A-
60	Ethel	1 compounds	No	11	A
61	St. Francisville	1 compounds	No	9	B+
62	Jennings	1 compounds	No	10	B+
63	Breaux Bridge	1 compounds	No	34	D
64	St. Martinville	1 compounds	No	80	F
65	Baker	1 compounds	No	2	A-
66	Church Point	1 compounds	No	14	C
67	Milton	1 compounds	No	40	F
68	Livingston	1 compounds	No	7	B+
69	Ferriday	1 compounds	No	259	F
70	Coushatta	1 compounds	No	226	F
71	Lake Arthur	1 compounds	No	2	A-
72	Cecilia	1 compounds	No	11	B-
73	Albany	1 compounds	No	16	D
74	Tallulah	1 compounds	No	51	F
75	Deville	1 compounds	No	1	A
76	Zwolle	1 compounds	No	229	D
77	Grambling	1 compounds	No	49	F
78	Kinder	1 compounds	No	37	F
79	Boyce	1 compounds	No	18	B+
80	Leesville	1 compounds	No	22	C
81	Carencro	1 compounds	No	3	A-
82	Scott	1 compounds	No	12	C-
83	Westlake	1 compounds	No	22	F
84	Loreauville	1 compounds	No	15	B-
85	Greensburg	1 compounds	No	14	D
86	Welsh	1 compounds	No	5	A-
87	Keithville	1 compounds	No	44	D
88	Lawtell	1 compounds	No	11	A-
89	Eunice	1 compounds	No	20	B-
90	Charenton	1 compounds	No	15	B+
91	Angie	1 compounds	No	41	F
92	Leonville	1 compounds	No	17	C+
93	Jonesboro	1 compounds	No	64	D
94	Franklin	1 compounds	No	85	D
95	Arnaudville	1 compounds	No	44	C
96	New Llano	1 compounds	No	21	C+
97	Rayville	1 compounds	No	122	F
98	Westwego	1 compounds	No	18	B-
99	Natchez	1 compounds	No	23	A
100	Egan	1 compounds	No	28	F
101	Crowville	1 compounds	No	4	B
102	Delhi	1 compounds	No	21	B+
103	Homer	1 compounds	No	27	F
104	Springhill	1 compounds	No	7	B
105	Franklinton	1 compounds	No	25	B
106	Stonewall	1 compounds	No	1	A-
107	Ponchatoula	1 compounds	No	13	C
108	Basile	1 compounds	No	32	A-
109	Lake Providence	1 compounds	No	45	F
110	Port Barre	1 compounds	No	13	B+
111	Pollock	1 compounds	No	17	C-
112	Rosepine	1 compounds	No	7	B
113	Slagle	1 compounds	No	0	A-
114	Angola	1 compounds	No	7	A
115	Bunkie	1 compounds	No	16	D
116	Berwick	1 compounds	No	13	B+
117	Anacoco	1 compounds	No	6	B+
118	Kaplan	1 compounds	No	29	B-
119	Haughton	1 compounds	No	27	F
120	Bently	1 compounds	No	1	A-
121	Monterey	1 compounds	No	5	B-
122	Greenwood	1 compounds	No	11	C+
123	St Joseph	1 compounds	No	56	F
124	Turkey Creek	1 compounds	No	2	A
125	Bell City	1 compounds	No	14	B+
126	Vinton	1 compounds	No	2	B+
127	Woodworth	1 compounds	No	5	A-
128	Mamou	1 compounds	No	26	D
129	Keatchie	1 compounds	No	32	F
130	Plaucheville	1 compounds	No	2	A-
131	Iowa	1 compounds	No	4	B+
132	Bordelonville	1 compounds	No	3	A-
133	Doyline	1 compounds	No	67	D
134	Effie	1 compounds	No	5	A-
135	Abita Springs	1 compounds	No	6	A
136	Lena	1 compounds	No	5	B+
137	Kilbourne	1 compounds	No	12	C+
138	Alanta	1 compounds	No	14	F
139	Transylvania	1 compounds	No	30	F
140	Grand Chenier	1 compounds	No	42	D
141	Carville	1 compounds	No	1	B+
142	Chalmette	0 compounds	No	23	A-
143	Minden	0 compounds	No	40	F
144	Bastrop	0 compounds	No	46	F
145	Blanchard	0 compounds	No	26	B+
146	Deridder	0 compounds	No	4	B+
147	Bogalusa	0 compounds	No	24	D
148	Barksdale Afb	0 compounds	No	16	A
149	Winnfield	0 compounds	No	184	D+
150	Sunset	0 compounds	No	21	C+
151	Oakdale	0 compounds	No	29	D
152	Winnsboro	0 compounds	No	17	F
153	New Iberia	0 compounds	No	30	F
154	Jena	0 compounds	No	27	D+
155	Singer	0 compounds	No	10	A+
156	Choudrant	0 compounds	No	43	D
157	Amite	0 compounds	No	13	C
158	Dequincy	0 compounds	No	4	A+
159	Athens	0 compounds	No	10	A-
160	Arcadia	0 compounds	No	16	C
161	Dubach	0 compounds	No	92	D+
162	Archibald	0 compounds	No	3	A-
163	Vivian	0 compounds	No	16	A-
164	Forest Hill	0 compounds	No	3	A
165	Pearl River	0 compounds	No	3	A
166	Maringouin	0 compounds	No	7	A-
167	Erath	0 compounds	No	4	A
168	Folsom	0 compounds	No	2	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Louisiana

Does Louisiana tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 141 of 168 Louisiana cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. 6 cities exceed the 2024 EPA MCL of 4 ppt for individual PFAS compounds.

How can I remove PFAS from my drinking water in Louisiana?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing PFAS, typically removing 90%+ of compounds. High-quality activated carbon block filters (NSF 58-certified for RO, or NSF 53 for solid carbon) also provide significant reduction. Standard pitcher filters vary widely in PFAS removal.

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