HR 312

HLS 26RS-5152  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 312
 BY REPRESENTATIVE WALTERS
 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
1A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Department of
3Environmental Quality to evaluate the water quality in the Shreveport vicinity and
4provide written recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and
5Environment regarding the safety for public use and consumption.
6WHEREAS, the city of Shreveport’s water system received an "F" grade (45/100)
7 from the Louisiana Department of Health for 2026, marking the third consecutive year of
8 failing grades; and
9WHEREAS, such a failing score raises serious concerns regarding aging
10 infrastructure, water treatment reliability, distribution system integrity, environmental safety,
11 and long-term sustainability; and
12WHEREAS, on May 13, 2014, a legally binding settlement was entered constituting
13 a water consent decree between the city of Shreveport, the Environmental Protection
14 Agency, and the Department of Justice to address Clean Water Act violations from sanitary
15 sewer overflows; and
16WHEREAS, the consent decree mandates over three hundred million dollars in
17 infrastructure upgrades over twelve years, ending around 2026, to repair and upgrade sewer
18 systems; and
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 HLS 26RS-5152  ORIGINAL
  HR NO. 312
1WHEREAS, the residents of the city of Shreveport depend on safe, reliable, and
2 sustainable drinking water services for public health, economic stability, and quality of life;
3 and
4WHEREAS, new industrial users in the Shreveport area adding stress on the water
5 system and creating additional strain on the infrastructure may have negative impacts on the
6 already struggling water system in the city of Shreveport; and
7WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Department of
8 Environmental Quality have the knowledge and expertise to evaluate the safety of the water
9 in Shreveport for household uses and drinking and to assess the progress of the city water
10 system toward upgrading its systems and improving the water quality.
11THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
12 Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request that the Louisiana Department of
13 Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality conduct
14 a comprehensive evaluation of the city of Shreveport’s water infrastructure, treatment
15 systems, environmental impacts, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability and
16 provide recommendations regarding the public safety and suitability of the water for
17 drinking and other uses by the residents of Shreveport, both private and commercial.
18BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a written report of their findings and progress
19 shall be submitted to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment by
20 November 1, 2026, and another report shall be submitted to the committee ninety days
21 before the convening of the 2027 Regular Session of the Legislature.
22BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23 secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy and the secretary of the Department
24 of Environmental Quality.
  DIGEST
 The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
 of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
 part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
 HR 312 Original  2026 Regular Session  Walters
 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
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HLS 26RS-5152  ORIGINAL
  HR NO. 312
written recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
regarding the safety for public use and consumption.
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