To track pollution sources, we combine all of our water quality, public outreach, and education programs and cooperate with state and local agencies to focus our efforts in a single watershed. We have seen success with this program in the Bogue Falaya and Tchefuncte Watersheds in St. Tammany Parish, and the Tangipahoa and Natalbany Watersheds in Tangipahoa Parish. We currently are targeting the Natalbany Watershed in Tangipahoa Parish and the Bogue Falaya/Abita Watershed in St. Tammany Parish.

The program has also led to reductions in fecal pollution in more than 10 waterways. We will continue working with state and parish entities to coordinate efforts within the watershed. Education and outreach is an important part of this program.  We do this in several ways:

• We offer technical assistance to commercial and home WWTP owners/operators.
• With the assistance of LDEQ and LDHH, we produce and distribute resources to educate homeowners on the care and maintenance of home WWTPs.
• We share the successes of the project through presentations at conferences, publications in journals, and posts across our social media platforms.

LSU Engineering professors Aaron Bivins and Samuel Snow are researching untreated wastewater in the Yellow Water and Natalbany rivers. They use a new testing method that can tell if contamination is coming from human waste versus that of animals. If the source is found to be human waste, the researchers will know that malfunctioning home wastewater systems are releasing untreated sewage into the rivers.

Our reports will be used to find the location of these waste sources. Working with Bivins, Snow, and parish officials, we will go door to door to connect with residents so they can help determine solutions. The LSU professor’s goal is to eventually create a smaller, more affordable disinfection method for home sewage systems to help reduce pollution in our Basin. 

If you live near these watersheds and would like more information, please contact us.