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Hurricane Katrina: Louisiana - EPA Response Update

Release Date: 9/10/2005
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Water sampling is a high priority in EPA's response to Hurricane Katrina.  EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (http://www.deq.state.la.us/) have posted the results of the first rounds of sampling.  The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy.  

     To view the test results, visit https://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html.  EPA and LDEQ continue to conduct flood water sampling for chemical and biological testing in and around the New Orleans area.

     EPA and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/) continue to assess 684 drinking water systems.  

     Responders are assessing the area's wastewater facilities.  More than 77 percent of major municipal wastewater facilities are operational.  More than 28 percent of major industrial wastewater facilities are operational.  More than 40 percent of minor municipal facilities are operational.

     EPA's joint field operations with state officials are ongoing.  EPA and the State of Louisiana Joint Incident Management Team is operating 24 hours a day at the emergency center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  

     EPA and LDEQ issued a joint news release with information about household hazardous waste collection (curbside pickup) in St. Tammany Parish's Mandeville neighborhoods (http://www.deq.state.la.us/news/pdf/HOUSEHOLDHAZARDOUSWASTESTTAMMANY.pdf).

     For more information on dealing with household debris in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, please visit https://www.epa.gov/katrina/activities.html#caution.