Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Served by Baton Rouge Municipal Water System. 220,000 residents.

Average score 63/100
Utilities 1
Population 220,000
D
63/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

Tap water in Baton Rouge, Louisiana receives a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by Baton Rouge Municipal Water System. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and Baton Rouge's published Consumer Confidence Report.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Sample data notice: Some or all data on this page is illustrative sample data, not live measurements. See our disclaimer and data sources.

What's in Baton Rouge's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Baton Rouge.

Arsenic significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 3.59 ppb, 898x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.

Chromium-6 detected

Moderate concern

Chromium-6 detected at 0.27 ppb.

Recommended filters for Baton Rouge

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Baton Rouge's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

All contaminants detected in Baton Rouge's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

Sample test dates: Water samples were collected in 2024. Test dates per contaminant are shown in the table below.

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Arsenic
Heavy metal
3.59 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 2023 898× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
8.4 ppb 0.1 60 60 2024 84× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
10.0 ppb 0.6 80 100 2024 17× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.324 ppb 0.02 0.02 2022 16× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.5 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2024 11× over
Lead
Heavy metal
1.0 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2024
Contaminant Detected (2024) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
8.4 ppb 0.1 60 60 84× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
10.0 ppb 0.6 80 100 17× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.5 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 11× over
Lead
Heavy metal
1.0 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Contaminant Detected (2023) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Arsenic
Heavy metal
3.59 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 898× over
Contaminant Detected (2022) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.324 ppb 0.02 0.02 16× over

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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

Treatment plant contact info

For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from Baton Rouge Municipal Water System.

Treatment Plant

FacilityBaton Rouge Water Treatment Plant
Location3643 Treatment Plant Road, Baton Rouge, LA
Operator certificationClass A (State certified)
Treatment capacity44 million gallons/day

ZIP codes served

Baton Rouge's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: