Ruston Water System is currently in violation of the treatment technique requirements for minimum residual disinfectant level as set forth by the State (Part XII of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code). Although this incident is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation.
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has determined that the presence of microbiological contaminants is a health concern at certain levels of exposure and requires the disinfection of drinking water to kill disease-causing organisms. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water but also may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking water. LDH has set enforceable requirements for treating drinking water to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Treatment such as filtering and disinfecting the water removes and destroys microbiological contaminants. Drinking water that is treated to meet LDH requirements is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe.
We are required to monitor your water for the residual disinfectant level. This tells us whether we are effectively treating the water supply. During the compliance monitoring periods of (07/01/2026) through (07/31/2026), and (08/01/2026) through (08/31/2026), the Ruston Water System failed to provide the minimum residual disinfectant level in the treated water supplied to customers. The violation occurred because the treated water chlorine residual was less than 0.5 milligrams per liter in over five percent of the samples collected in the water system in two consecutive months.
You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
The issue was caused by pump failure at one well site and valves being inadvertently left closed, causing water to travel further in the system. The city immediately transferred to an alternate well and flushed lines to remove the water with low Chlorine. The well has been repaired, and the valves opened to reduce the chances of low chlorine at the lines with further distances to travel.
It should be noted that all bacterial samples submitted during the compliance monitoring periods of 07/01/2026 through 08/31/2026 were absent of bacteria, and all samples submitted through the 09/23/2026 compliance monitoring period were above the required 0.5 milligrams per liter.
Re: Notice of Violation / Tier 2 Public Notification of Non-Compliance
Chlorine Treatment Technique (Tl) Violation
Community Water System
Ruston Water System
PII" S ID # M 1061017
Lincoln Parish
For more information, please contact the City of Ruston at (318)242-7703. This notice is being sent to you by Ruston Water System PWS LA 1061017. 09/23/2026
