Who Is In Charge of My Water?
- Citizen's Guide
- Chapter 3: Your Water
- 3.2 Drinking Water
- Who Is In Charge of My Water?
- Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Government Agencies & Environmental Regulations
- Chapter 2: Public Participation in Government
- Chapter 3: Your Water
- Chapter 4: Your Air
- Chapter 5: Your Land
- Chapter 6: Emergency Preparedness
- Guide Wrap-Up
- Additional Resources & Contact Information
- Credits, Dedication & Thanks
Our drinking water is protected by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the authority of this law, EPA oversees the state and local governments and water suppliers who must implement standards for safe drinking water. But who is in charge of your water?
In short, YOU.
YOU are responsible for making sure the water you drink is safe!
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) supervises public water systems. If you have a concern with your drinking water and are on a public water system, contact DHH and the Safe Drinking Water Program
The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plays a role in managing state surface water and groundwater resources. Contact DNR to learn more about their programs.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) regulates surface water quality and can address pollution issues. LDEQ also maintains a Drinking Water Protection Program.
If you have a concern about your drinking water and you have a private water well you are responsible for the maintenance and water quality testing of the well. If you believe that your well has been contaminated by external pollution sources then contact LDEQ.
The protection of your drinking water is overseen by several Government agencies and departments but ultimately you, as the end user, need to know how to take control over the quality of your drinking water.
If you get your drinking water from a water system, be sure you know how to look up water quality data from your provider.
If you get your drinking water from a private well, be sure you monitor and test the water regularly.
And regardless of where your water comes from, be sure you know how to treat it in case there are any contaminants that may impact your health.
Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission
If you live in the Greater Baton Rouge Area, the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission plays an important role in managing the drinking water aquifer of the Capital area.
The mission of the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission is to provide for the efficient administration, conservation, orderly development and supplementation of groundwater resources in the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.
The Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission will develop, promote, and implement management strategies to provide for the conservation, preservation, protection, recharging and prevention of waste of the groundwater resources, over which it has jurisdictional authority, for the benefit of the people that the Capital Area District serves. - https://www.cagwcc.com/site201...