What was found in Columbia's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 2100 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2100 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 222.5 µg/L 5.6% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2015 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 300 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1185 µg/L — VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 945 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 9.0345 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 496.605 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 3.9 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 227.105 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.1335 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 221.35 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 31.85 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 210 µg/L — COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT · 1,965 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.298 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 182.2 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.1245 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 141 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 0.8990 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 126.82 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.3575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 98.42 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.475 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.67 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.1 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19 µg/L — VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 945 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.282 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.46 µg/L — EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.5 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.6 µg/L — VIXEN WATER SYSTEM · 750 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 10.19 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 2,829 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 0.3800 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.925 µg/L — VIXEN WATER SYSTEM · 750 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 6 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.69 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.596 pCi/L — VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 945 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.17 pCi/L 28% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: VIXEN WATER SYSTEM · 750 people · 2016 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.5200 µg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.355 µg/L — VIXEN WATER SYSTEM · 750 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.6476 pCi/L 13% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.16995 pCi/L — VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 945 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 1.72 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 945 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.3 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM · 945 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.19 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 1 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT · 1,965 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.9100 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: VIXEN WATER SYSTEM · 750 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.3000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT · 1,965 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.0620 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.2080 µg/L — COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT · 1,965 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: HEBERT WATER SYSTEM · 3,048 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0028 mg/L — COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT · 1,965 people · 2025 | 5/5 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Columbia
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| HEBERT WATER SYSTEM | 3,048 |
| EAST COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM | 2,829 |
| COLUMBIA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT | 1,965 |
| VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA WATER SYSTEM | 945 |
| VIXEN WATER SYSTEM | 750 |
Frequently asked questions about Columbia tap water
Is Columbia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Columbia. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Columbia?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Columbia, Louisiana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Columbia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Columbia include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.