WATER/DRINKING WATER: Urges and requests the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate the water quality in the Shreveport vicinity and provide written recommendations regarding the safety for public use and consumption
House Resolution 312 urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of water quality and water-system conditions in the Shreveport vicinity. The resolution focuses on the city’s drinking water safety, including infrastructure condition, treatment reliability, distribution system integrity, environmental impacts, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability. It also asks the agencies to provide written recommendations on whether the water is safe for public use and consumption, including household, drinking, private, and commercial uses.
The resolution is framed around concerns that Shreveport’s water system has received repeated failing grades, that aging infrastructure may be affecting reliability and safety, and that industrial growth may be adding stress to an already strained system. It directs the agencies to report their findings to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment by November 1, 2026, and again 90 days before the 2027 Regular Session. Because it is a resolution, it does not itself change water-quality standards or impose new regulatory requirements, but it does formally request state agency review and reporting on the condition of the local water system.
HR 312 does not amend the Louisiana Revised Statutes or create enforceable duties for the city of Shreveport or the named agencies; instead, it expresses the House’s request for an evaluation and written recommendations. Its practical effect would be to place the Shreveport water system under additional state scrutiny and to generate reports that could inform future legislative, regulatory, or infrastructure decisions. The resolution may also affect public perception and local planning by highlighting concerns about drinking water safety, sewer and water infrastructure, and environmental compliance.
The available context shows the bill as pending in the House Natural Resources process, with no recorded votes or committee debate provided. Based on the text, the resolution appears to be driven by concern about repeated poor water-system grades and the need to protect public health and infrastructure reliability. The overall tone is precautionary and oversight-oriented rather than adversarial, with the Legislature seeking expert review from state agencies.
The main points of concern are the condition of Shreveport’s water infrastructure, the safety of drinking water, and whether industrial users are increasing strain on the system. The resolution implicitly raises questions about the city’s compliance history, the adequacy of ongoing upgrades under the 2014 consent decree, and whether current progress is sufficient. Any contention would likely center on the extent of state involvement, the accuracy or implications of the failing grades, and whether the problem is primarily infrastructure, operations, environmental compliance, or added demand from development.