Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
baton rouge water company
groundwater (wells) · private · PWSID LA1033005
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 228,590 residents, Baton Rouge ranks as the 2nd-largest city in Louisiana and a mid-sized city. Water in Baton Rouge is sourced chiefly from Mississippi River, Sparta aquifer, and Chicot aquifer, the backbone of Louisiana's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: saltwater intrusion. Mississippi River saltwater intrusion during low-flow periods has threatened New Orleans-area drinking water.
Statewide, Louisiana recycles about 4% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Baton Rouge faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The Louisiana state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Baton Rouge's water future.
East Baton Rouge Parish County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~228,590 (2nd-largest in Louisiana)
- Primary sources: Mississippi River, Sparta aquifer, and Chicot aquifer
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~4% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Louisiana in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge's largest water system, BATON ROUGE WATER COMPANY, serves about 596,844 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Baton Rouge get its water?
BATON ROUGE WATER COMPANY draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Louisiana's supply from Mississippi River, Sparta aquifer, Chicot aquifer.
Related water issues
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
Explore