Lake Charles
Lake Charles, LA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
city of lake charles water system
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID LA1019029
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Lake Charles, LA is a small but growing city, with a population near 76,070 and the 7th-largest community in Louisiana. Like much of Louisiana, Lake Charles draws its water primarily from Mississippi River, Sparta aquifer, and Chicot aquifer.
Lake Charles's water outlook is shaped most by saltwater intrusion — the issue that dominates planning across Louisiana. Mississippi River saltwater intrusion during low-flow periods has threatened New Orleans-area drinking water.
Lake Charles sits in a state that reuses roughly 4% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences severe to extreme drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Louisiana state water profile and the related issues below.
Calcasieu Parish County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~76,070 (7th-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 Lake Charles?
Lake Charles's largest water system, CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM, serves about 79,500 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0.8 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Lake Charles get its water?
CITY OF LAKE CHARLES WATER SYSTEM 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