States ›Louisiana ›Orleans Parish ›New Orleans

New Orleans, LA Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for New Orleans, LA — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at New Orleans's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: New Orleans Carrollton Water Works PWSID: LA1071009 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 6.00 ppb, 40% of the action level and no violations are open. PFAS was detected below the federal limit.

B

New Orleans earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 6.00 ppb — 40% of the federal action level
PFAS detected below the federal limit
5 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
No violations currently open
New Orleans's lead level vs. all Louisiana community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 6.00 ppb — 40% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 6% of Louisiana utilities
Population Served
336065
~137049 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
5 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
40% of EPA action level
6.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 6.00 ppb, 40% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2025 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2023 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2022 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2022 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2016 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

5 violations are on record since 2015, of which 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility New Orleans Carrollton Water Works
PWSID LA1071009
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 336,065
Service connections 137,049
Systems serving this area 6
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Orleans tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 6.00 ppb, 40% of the action level.
Does New Orleans water have PFAS? ▼
PFAS was detected but stayed below the federal limit.
Who supplies water to New Orleans? ▼
New Orleans Carrollton Water Works (PWSID LA1071009), one of 6 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-01-09. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should New Orleans Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in Louisiana