When Will Shreveport Water Be Clear Again?

SHREVEPORT, LA - Things are getting better with the water in Shreveport. But it's not yet back to 100%.

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The Department of Water and Sewerage continues to treat water to get rid of the discoloration caused by high levels of manganese.

Here's an Update from the City:

Progress continues in our efforts to address the discoloration caused by manganese in our water supply. As of this afternoon (Tuesday), some areas still experiencing discolored water are showing improvement. Thanks to our continuous water sampling and adjustments in treatment methods, manganese levels are steadily decreasing. Our flushing efforts are ongoing.

Residents who still have discoloration in the water are urged to contact the Water and Sewer Department at 318-673-7600 to request a flush for your area, or you can submit a request through Q-alert.

READ MORE: Here's what the water looked like in early June.

This water problem is likely the result of a series of heavy rain events that have significantly impacted Cross Lake which is the city's water source.

City leaders say:

We acknowledge that some of our customers are still experiencing off-color water from their taps. Our scientists and engineers have been working around the clock for the last week and a half to combat its impact on our water system. Our treatment process is effective, but it's taking longer to get through our system than we hoped. The mineral levels causing the issue have been going down each day, and we are making changes to our treatment method daily to account for the decreased levels. The suspected cause of the discoloration is historically high levels of dissolvable Manganese in Cross Lake.

READ MORE: How to get help with your water bill.

Manganese is a relatively common and naturally occurring mineral. However, dissolvable manganese in our lake water is a highly unusual occurrence. And the levels of manganese have been higher that we've seen before.

Is Shreveport Water Safe to Drink?

Despite the yellow appearance, the water is not dirty and is perfectly safe to drink. Crews will continue to monitor and adjust the treatment as needed. Customers should already be seeing a noticeable improvement. However not everyone's water is back to normal. The city is continuing the treatment efforts and will also continue to flush pipes.