Official Louisiana State Websites use .la.gov 
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS LDH is moving forward with a plan to distribute food benefits on EBT cards. If the USDA, who administers the SNAP program, is prepared and ready to move money into states’ accounts, we will use federal dollars to fund SNAP recipients’ accounts. If they are not ready, LDH will proceed with our state-funded program to provide food assistance to the elderly, the disabled, and households with children through their existing EBT cards.
Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR)
The RTCR establishes a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for E. coli and uses E. coli and total coliforms to initiate a "find and fix" approach to address fecal contamination that could enter into the distribution system. It requires public water systems (PWSs) to perform assessments to identify sanitary defects and subsequently take action to correct them. EPA will have enforcement authority until LDH/OPH is granted primacy.
Level 1 and 2 Assessments
Level 1 Assessment Triggers - Level 1 Assessment (pdf) to be conducted by water system (Additional signature page)
- A PWS collecting fewer than 40 samples per month has 2 or more TC+ routine/repeat samples in the same month
- A PWS collecting at least 40 samples per month has greater than 5% of the routine/repeat samples in the same month that are TC+.
- Failure to collect every required repeat sample after any TC+
Level 2 Assessment Triggers - Level 2 Assessment to be done by LDH District Office Representative
- A PWS incurs an E. coli MCL Violation
- A PWS has a second Level 1 Assessment within a rolling 12-month period
It is the responsibility of the water system to be aware of when an assessment is triggered and submit assessments to the District Office where the water system is located by the required deadline.
Additional Materials
EL219 - Maintaining and Achieving RTCR Compliance for Small Systems - This free eLearning course was funded by the EPA and is available to anyone, including operators, State drinking water agency staff, and technical assistance providers. The course will focus on information relevant for small water systems that serve under 10,000 people. (3 hour course)