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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
Side-by-side comparison of tap water quality
| Metric | New Orleans | Baton Rouge | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 82/100 | 56/100 | New Orleans |
| Grade | B+ | C- | - |
| Contaminants Tested | 10 | 9 | - |
| Above EPA Limits | 0 | 0 | Tie |
| EPA Violations (Unresolved) | 0 | 1 | New Orleans |
| Water Source | surface | groundwater | - |
| Population Served | 379,405 | 224,800 | - |
Side-by-side contaminant levels as percentage of EPA limits
| Contaminant | New Orleans | Baton Rouge | EPA Limit | Lower Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes | 10.02 ug/L (12.5% of limit) | 43.62 ug/L (54.5% of limit) | 80.00 ug/L | New Orleans |
| Haloacetic Acids | 12.16 ug/L (20.3% of limit) | 31.37 ug/L (52.3% of limit) | 60.00 ug/L | New Orleans |
| Chromium | 0.0012 mg/L (1.2% of limit) | 0.041 mg/L (41.4% of limit) | 0.100 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Nitrate | 0.899 mg/L (9.0% of limit) | 3.81 mg/L (38.1% of limit) | 10.00 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Lead | 0.0006 mg/L (3.9% of limit) | 0.0056 mg/L (37.4% of limit) | 0.015 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Nitrite | 0.013 mg/L (1.3% of limit) | 0.296 mg/L (29.6% of limit) | 1.00 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Mercury | 0.0001 mg/L (7.4% of limit) | 0.0006 mg/L (29.0% of limit) | 0.0020 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Arsenic | 0.0003 mg/L (2.6% of limit) | 0.0028 mg/L (28.1% of limit) | 0.010 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Copper | 0.046 mg/L (3.6% of limit) | 0.346 mg/L (26.7% of limit) | 1.30 mg/L | New Orleans |
| Fluoride | 0.684 mg/L (17.1% of limit) | Not tested | 4.00 mg/L | N/A |
Based on contaminants detected in each city
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New Orleans outperforms Baton Rouge in overall water quality, scoring 82/100 compared to 56/100. This 26-point difference reflects meaningful distinctions in contaminant levels, EPA compliance history, and water infrastructure quality. The gap is driven by differences in source water protection, treatment technology, distribution system age, and the regulatory track record of each city's water utility. Residents in both cities should understand what these scores mean for their daily water use and health.
New Orleans draws from surface sources serving approximately 379,405 people, while Baton Rouge relies on groundwater sources serving about 224,800 residents. The type of source water significantly affects the contaminants that must be addressed during treatment. Surface water sources such as rivers and reservoirs are more susceptible to agricultural runoff, microbial contamination, and seasonal turbidity, while groundwater sources may contain naturally occurring minerals like arsenic, radium, or fluoride depending on local geology. Both cities treat their water to meet EPA standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, but the specific treatment processes and their effectiveness vary based on the challenges posed by each source.
Water quality scores are based on EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System) data, which tracks contaminant testing results, compliance violations, and system characteristics for every public water system in the United States. A higher score indicates fewer detected contaminants, better compliance with federal regulations, and stronger infrastructure. However, no water system is perfect, and conditions can change due to aging pipes, seasonal variations, upstream pollution events, or changes in treatment processes. Regardless of your city's score, monitoring your local utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report and considering point-of-use filtration are prudent steps for protecting your household's water quality.
New Orleans has better overall water quality with a score of 82/100 (Grade B+). Higher overall quality score (82 vs 56)
Yes, New Orleans's tap water generally meets EPA safety standards with a quality score of 82/100 (Grade B+).
Baton Rouge's tap water has some concerns with a score of 56/100. Consider using a water filter for additional protection.
Water filters can provide additional protection and improve taste regardless of your city's water quality score. Given the scores in this comparison, we particularly recommend filtration for residents of Baton Rouge.