For the second year in a row, the City of Shreveport’s water system received an “F” grade in a statewide report, a rating that primarily reflects aging infrastructure, not water safety.
“Most of the points we lost were due to infrastructure issues,” said William Daniel, Director of Water and Sewerage. “However, some of the grade was also impacted by manganese-related concerns.”
City officials emphasize that the “F” grade is not an indication that Shreveport’s water is unsafe to drink. Issues associated with the winter freeze and discoloration from manganese triggered treatment technique violations, but testing confirmed that microbial and chemical levels remained within safe drinking water standards.
“Manganese and geosmin affect the taste and smell of the water, but they fall under secondary water quality standards. These are aesthetic issues, not health concerns,” Daniel added.
“Of course, the City remains concerned about the color, taste, and odor of the water, and we are committed to continue working on those issues until they are resolved. We have made major progress on that front,” said Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
Ongoing and Planned Improvements
To address the root causes behind the grade, the department has already completed several major improvements, including:
- Rehabilitating water towers
- Adding backup generators to ground storage facilities
- Replacing the outdated chlorine dioxide oxidation system to improve manganese treatment
- Re-implementing the activated carbon system to combat taste & odor issues caused by excess algae and organic growth in the lake.
Looking forward, the department is pursuing additional upgrades to further improve water quality and system reliability:
- Automated Basin Cleaning: Installing automated cleaning systems in the plant’s basins to reduce sludge buildup. Although early cost estimates exceeded $10 million, the project remains under consideration due to its long-term benefits.
- Distribution System Upgrades: With over 1,100 miles of water mains—some more than 80 years old—efforts are underway to replace outdated pipes and valves. This will reduce the frequency of boil advisories.
- System Optimization: Plans include upsizing undersized water mains (those under 6 inches), reducing dead ends in the system by creating loops, and installing automatic flushing units in low-use areas to prevent water stagnation.
Impact of the 2024 Bond Package
Many of these infrastructure projects are being funded through the 2024 bond issue approved by voters. The bond will support:
- Replacement of two major transmission lines responsible for moving 60% of the City’s water
- Upgrades to treatment equipment and plant facilities
- Construction of a new water intake system
- Design and construction of a strategically located water tower to improve system pressure and reliability
“The 2024 bond will significantly improve our infrastructure, reliability, and overall water quality,” Daniel stated. “These upgrades represent a long-term investment in the health and safety of our residents.”
For more information about the City’s ongoing water system improvements, visit www.shreveportlawater.gov/.