Drinking Water Quality Results from 2003 Compliance Monitoring

From January 1st thru December 31st, 2003, monitoring was carried out to determine if the quality of the drinking water met State and Federal Regulations. This is called compliance monitoring. The results in the table meet all drinking water regulations.

* Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. Its sources include soil runoff.
* * EPA considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.
* * * TOC removal is reported here as the ratio of the actual TOC removal to that required by regulation.
Note: n/a = not applicable
Note: The State of Louisiana did not require monitoring of our tap water for the following EPA regulated contaminants-Combined Radium, Asbestos, Nitrite, and Dioxin.

How do I know if herbicides are a problem in my water?
The State tests your water annually for herbicides. But to make sure that your water is safe, the Sewerage and Water Board carries out additional testing of monthly samples. The drinking water provided by the Sewerage and Water Board has never been in violation of drinking water regulations.

Do we have hard water? What is the hardness of our water?
Yes, New Orleans tap water is moderately hard water. Some believe that the term arises from the fact that it is difficult or "hard" to make suds or a lather with soap in hard water. Others say that "hardness" is associated with the fact that it is "hard" to remove the soap ring from the bathtub. Hard water is primarily caused by two harmless minerals calcium and magnesium. The total hardness is the sum of the two expressed as milligrams per liter (mg/L) of calcium carbonate or grains/gallon of calcium carbonate.
In 2003, the average total hardness in tap water was:
141 mg/L (or 8.2 grains/gallon) on the East Bank, and 130 mg/L (or 7.6 grains/gallon) on the West Bank.
For comparison, in terms of mg/L of calcium carbonate, soft water ranges from 0 to 75, moderately hard water from 75 to 150, hard water from 150 to 300, and water above 300 is considered very hard.

How much sodium and potassium are in my tap water?
The amounts of sodium and potassium in New Orleans tap water are very low. From our 2003 measurements we find that the average amount of sodium in one eight ounce glass of tap water was 5 milligrams, and the average amount of potassium was one milligram.

Why is my water milky white at times? Will cloudy water make me sick?
Tiny air bubbles can cause water to appear cloudy. As the water sits, the bubbles rise to the top and the water will look clear again. Starting in October and November, when the water starts to get cold, there may be many cases of cloudy water. Cloudy water that is due to air in the water will not make you sick.

Is there radon in my tap water?
No. Radon is a radioactive gas that exists naturally in some ground waters. Since New Orleans gets its drinking water from the Mississippi River, a surface water source, radon is not a problem for us.

What causes water to have an unusual taste or odor?
On occasion, particularly during the summer, a buildup of algae in the river may produce chemicals that give the water a grassy or musty taste and odor. These chemicals pose no health risk. Very infrequently, tap water has had a taste or odor due to industrial discharges in the river.