Read the full article by Emily Woodruff (Nola.com)
“A recent study has raised new questions about the safety of drinking water in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. The analysis found traces of ‘forever chemicals’ and heavy metals in homes that draw tap water from the Mississippi River, which supplies nearly 1 million people in the region.
The project was small — only 107 homes in seven parishes were sampled — but results were consistent: 98% of homes that were tested had at least one type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or PFAS. Lead was found in about two-thirds of samples, arsenic in 70%, and other metals like manganese and copper were also common. Sodium levels exceeded federal health advisory limits when the Mississippi River ran especially low.
The report was published Tuesday by the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, a nonprofit focused on water policy, education and equity. Samples were collected between October 2024 and March 2025.” …