We read 16 results from Baton Rouge Water Company’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 7 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 579,714 people · Water system ID LA1033005 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antimonyhighest measured · range ND to 2 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 2 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Above the health goal2x the health goal |
| Arsenichighest measured · range ND to 1.1 · sampled 2023 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.1 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal275x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range ND to 3.29 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.29 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Gross beta (radioactivity)highest measured · range ND to 2.6 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.6 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 50 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 50 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps (50 homes) · 2025 report, page 7 | 1 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal5x the health goal |
| Manganesehighest measured · range ND to 0.13 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.13 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Above the guideline2.6x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range ND to 2.2 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.2 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range ND to 0.22 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.22 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloraminehighest running annual average · range 0.43 to 3.2 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 5 | 2 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 50 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps (50 homes) · 2025 report, page 7 | Not detected | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Not detected |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 4.2 · Distribution system (4 sites) · 2025 report, page 5 | 3 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range ND to 6.7 · Distribution system (4 sites) · 2025 report, page 5 | 4 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.6 to 0.8 · sampled 2023 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.8 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Ironhighest measured · range ND to 0.29 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.29 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 0.4 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.4 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lithiumaverage · range 19.9 to 19.9 · Entry points (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 5 | 19.9 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Baton Rouge Water Company’s water between Mar 2024 and May 2026. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium45.6 ppbFound in 72 of 84 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Gross beta (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
Sediment or cloudy water
Found: Manganese
What removes it: Oxidation filter.
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