Water quality studies on freshwater bodies in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina occurred on August 28 – 29, 2005, on the Gulf Coast, much of New Orleans was flooded. Freshwater bodies and drinking water in the affected areas were polluted with high levels of coliform bacteria, fungi, pesticides and toxic chemicals. Lake Pontchartrain and Mississippi River were said to be dump sites for pollutants in addition to the flooding. They were fouled with human and animal remains, sewage, heavy metals, petrochemicals and other hazardous substances which were pumped into them. This makes periodic monitoring of these large water bodies necessary to assess the level of contamination still existing as well as smaller water bodies like ponds in the area. The purpose of this study was to find out the quality of these water bodies after one year of the hurricane occurrence as well as Southern University, New Orleans (SUNO) Golf Course pond. Water samples were collected for two consecutive days from each of Lake Pontchartrain, Mississippi River and the Golf Course pond at SUNO and tested for contaminants. They were also tested for total coliform and E. coli. The results and analysis of the results show that over 50% of the fifteen chemical parameters tested failed to meet the Mississippi Water Quality Criteria and/or EPA standard and that the coliform and E. coli levels were below minimum concentration or negative. This shows that the water bodies were still chemically contaminated. Periodic assessment of these water bodies is necessary to know whether the pollutants are clearing or increasing beyond human use.