Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Baton Rouge, LA tap water
14 contaminants were measured in the Baton Rouge, LA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 14
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Service area
- LA
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 4.81 pCi/LMaximumof Detects Highest | 5 pCi/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 6.6 pCi/LMaximumof Detects Highest | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 4 pCi/LReported levelMajor Sources2 | 50 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Major Sources2, of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antimony | 1.3 ug/LMaximumof Detects Highest | 6 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 1.1 ug/LMaximumof Detects Highest | 10 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.21 mg/LMaximumof Detects Highest | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 1 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 15 ug/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 12.6 ug/LAverageAverage Concentration | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.8 mg/LMaximumof Detects Highest | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Detects Highest, of Detects Lowest
| |||
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 6 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 80 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 4 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 60 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Concentration | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Baton Rouge, LA's water
+Is Baton Rouge, LA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 14 contaminants measured in Baton Rouge, LA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Baton Rouge, LA tap water?
14 contaminants were measured in Baton Rouge, LA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, radionuclides, and disinfection byproducts. 12 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Are any contaminants in Baton Rouge, LA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Combined Radium. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Baton Rouge, LA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Baton Rouge, LA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.