Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in New Orleans, Louisiana
Tap water in New Orleans, Louisiana receives a grade of F (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by NEW ORLEANS CARROLLTON WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in New Orleans's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving New Orleans.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 20.9 ppb, 348x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 20.8 ppb, 208x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 21.4 ppb, 143x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for NEW ORLEANS CARROLLTON WATER WORKS (system ID LA1071009) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment not met | 01/01/2025 | Open |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed testing | 06/01/2023 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for New Orleans
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in New Orleans's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 New Orleans'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 →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
20.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 348× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
20.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 208× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
21.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 143× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.06 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.78 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.508 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.911 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.3× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.933 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.1× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.031 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
272.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.06 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0745 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.184 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.16 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Simazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0334 ppb | 0.1 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0856 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
43.3 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.55 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.795 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0158 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.4 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
6.87 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.155 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.531 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0288 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.333 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.176 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
82.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.422 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
2.51 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, 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 NEW ORLEANS CARROLLTON WATER WORKS.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
New Orleans's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: