Water Quality Assessment in Louisiana

Water quality in Louisiana is managed under the two broad areas of surface water and groundwater. Surface water management seeks to protect the quality of all waters of the state, including rivers, streams, bayous, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries, and many other types of surface water. Groundwater management seeks to protect the quality of all waters found in underground aquifers as well as the surface water sources of that groundwater.

!Quick Link to Water Quality Assessments in Louisiana!

!Quick Link to Ambient Water Quality Data in Louisiana!

Current Events

• Final Draft 2008 Louisiana Water Quality Inventory: Integrated Report - The final draft of the 2008 Louisiana Water Quality Inventory: Integrated Report was submitted to EPA Region 6 on August 25, 2009. This represents LDEQ's final draft of the Integrated Report. Included in this report is LDEQ's Response to Comments received duiring the public notice of this document in 2008. EPA Region 6 will post their final decision on the 303(d) List in the Federal Register. 
• DEQ has recently completed a Use Attainability Analysis in the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins. The final report and supporting documents are available for public viewing. The proposed rule (#WQ075) based on the UAA documentation can be found at http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/2823/Default.aspx.
• Draft antidegradation implementation procedures available for public review and comment (Potpourri Notice # 0909Pot1):
  

Surface Water

• Water Quality Management Plan/Continuing Planning Process
• Developing Nutrient Criteria for Louisiana: 2006 - Mutually agreed upon (with EPA) nutrient criteria plan, June 20, 2006. 
• Water Quality Regulations and Standards - Louisiana's Water Quality Regulations can be found at this link. Look for Part IX: Water Quality in the table entitled ERC (LAC Title 33). Chapter 11 of Part IX provides all water quality standards (designated uses and criteria) for Louisiana.
• Water Quality Surveillance Home Page - LDEQ's Surveillance Division conducts ambient surface water monitoring.
• Ambient Surface Water Quality Monitoring Data - Surface water quality data collected routinely by LDEQ at locations throughout the state. 
• Water Quality Assessments (305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report) - Surface water assessments to determine needs for protection and improvement of water quality.
• Water Quality Surveys for TMDL Development - LDEQ's Water Quality Surveys Section conducts surface water sampling for TMDL development.
• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program - LDEQ's TMDL program develops surface water quality models to determine acceptable pollutant discharge loads for water bodies.
• Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES)  Program Page - LPDES program established water discharge limits and permits used to protect water bodies.
• Nonpoint Source (NPS) Water Pollution Control - LDEQ's NPS program seeks to reduce water quality pollution due to nonpoint sources of water pollution.
• Louisiana's Fishing and Swimming Advisories - Fish consumption and swimming advisories issued jointly by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and LDEQ.
• DEQ Mercury Initiative - LDEQ's program to reduce and where possible eliminate mercury releases to the environment.

Ground Water

• Aquifer Evaluation and Protection - Ground Water, Drinking Water, Wellhead Protection, Source Water Assessment, Drinking Water Protection Program

Water Quality Education

• Water Quality Educational Resources - Links to water quality educational resources for teachers, students and the public.