Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM
CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded C (68/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 79,500 residents in LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 337-491-1346.
Is LAKE CHARLES tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 79,500 residents in LAKE CHARLES, drawing from groundwater. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to total trihalomethanes (tthms) significantly above health guideline.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromoform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Manganese. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for LAKE CHARLES residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 18.1 ppb, 120x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 6.97 ppb, 116x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Dibromoacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernDibromoacetic acid detected at 2.52 ppb, 84x above the EWG health guideline of 0.03 ppb.
Contact CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for LAKE CHARLES
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 68/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
18.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
6.97 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 116× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.52 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 84× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.52 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 75× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.83 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.86 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
5.09 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.51 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.533 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.63 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.1× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.751 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
293.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Fails EU |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0133 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
301.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.0105 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
41.2 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.062 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.91 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1.88 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Volatile organic compound |
0.0141 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Endrin Other |
0.000918 ppb | 0.3 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Pentachlorophenol Other |
0.000776 ppb | 0.3 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0479 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.298 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
1.22 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0169 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0939 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Silver Other |
0.6 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Calcasieu Parish County, Louisiana. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LAKE CHARLES water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.