Shreveport water earns ‘F’ over infrastructure, policy scoring; Arceneaux says upgrades underway and safety isn’t in question

Posted by Admin May 4, 2026 Infra

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – The City of Shreveport held a news conference Monday afternoon (May 4) to address the city’s latest ‘F’ water grade.

The news conference was at 3 p.m. at Government Plaza in downtown Shreveport.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux discussed the current water system grade, what it means for people living in the city, and the ongoing efforts the city is making to improve water quality.

The following information was provided by Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux:

Arceneaux said that the ‘F’ grade on the water system is a reflection of the infrastructure, and it will take up to a couple of years to see a substantial improvement in the grade.

The grade is affected by long-term infrastructure conditions, policy factors, and state-level system evaluations.

The drop in grade this year is a result of scoring factors such as federal compliance categories and administrative interpretations, not because the drinking water is unsafe.

Arceneaux said the city has been under an administrative order for years, and although we have been in compliance with the order, it causes a 10-point deduction; without the deduction, our rating would be ‘C.’.

Arceneaux said there are three main issues:

Water quality – Direct measurements of safe drinking water and treatment
Infrastructure realities – 1,100 miles of old water pipes
Policy interpretation – Administrative mandates, documentation and subjective grading

Part of the administrative order includes refurbishing three water towers, which Arceneaux says can only be done one at a time and should be completed in 2027. They are also expected to replace two generators that take two years for delivery.

Arceneaux said the city will not see an improvement until a new report is issued in 2028 for the 2027 year.

Arceneaux said they are securing capital, consulting with partners and focusing on operational excellence.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) recently released water grades to cities around the state. Bossier City earned an A, as well as Vivian and Oil City.

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