We read 10 results from Lafayette Utilities Water System’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 169,389 people · Water system ID LA1055017 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · Wells before treatment · 2025 report, page 1 | 1.5 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal375x the health goal |
| Gross beta (radioactivity)highest measured · Wells before treatment · 2025 report, page 1 | 2.12 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 50 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · Treatment plants, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 1 | 1.91 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · Wells before treatment · 2025 report, page 1 | 0.26 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.76 to 2.17 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 1 | 1.55 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 5.3 to 8.6 · Thomas Nolan & Brigante · 2025 report, page 1 | 7 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23.1 to 26.7 · Thomas Nolan & Brigante · 2025 report, page 1 | 26 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · Wells before treatment · 2025 report, page 1 | 0.2 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · Treatment plants · 2025 report, page 1 | 0.3 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lithiumaverage · Treatment plants · 2025 report, page 1 | 17.5 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. 3 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Lafayette Utilities Water System’s water between Nov 2024 and May 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium37.4 ppbFound in 8 of 10 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 beta (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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