Shreveport Waters & the Clean Water Task Force

by: D. D. Reese

Shreveport's newly formed Clean Water Task Force, created under Resolution 381, marks a comprehensive step toward addressing both long-standing and emerging water-quality issues affecting the region. The initiative comes at a critical moment, as recent events and systemic challenges have drawn increased scrutiny to the city’s water infrastructure and treatment capacity.

One of the task force’s primary concerns is the recurring presence of manganese in the water supply. Following heavy rainfall in the spring and early summer of 2024, Cross Lake experienced an unusual phenomenon known as "lake turnover." This process released large quantities of manganese into the city’s water system. Dissolved manganese levels rose to 0.15 mg/L, three times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s aesthetic threshold, while treatment basins saw sediment accumulation as deep as ten feet. Internal communications obtained through public records revealed that manganese contamination in Cross Lake reached over 1 mg/L before treatment, far exceeding recommended limits and triggering accelerated testing and maintenance. These high levels of manganese have placed significant stress on aging infrastructure, contributing to the city’s overall “F” grade for water systems, a rating largely tied to outdated pipes and treatment limitations rather than contamination alone.

To address these challenges, Shreveport is relying on a combination of funding strategies and infrastructure planning. The city’s 2014 Bond Program has already supported essential system upgrades, such as new transmission lines and pump installations, and the reintroduction of activated-carbon treatment. State and federal funding sources, including the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), are potential avenues for securing low-interest loans and leveraging additional capital. Since 1988, CWSRF has financed more than $153 billion in water-quality projects nationwide. Federal grants provided through infrastructure legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) may also offer opportunities for addressing both manganese and other emerging contaminants.

In addition to traditional public financing, the task force is expected to explore public–private partnerships (P3s), which have proven successful in other U.S. cities. These arrangements can help modernize water treatment facilities while reducing direct fiscal pressure on municipal budgets. Examples of such models are evident in other regions. California’s Safe Drinking Water Task Forces combine government agencies, engineers, and community members to address localized contaminants and support green infrastructure. In the Midwest, lead pipe replacement efforts in cities like Flint and Milwaukee rely on task forces that engage the public, develop mitigation plans, and coordinate federal support. Arkansas’s water commissions have similarly taken a multi-agency, equity-centered approach that aligns with Shreveport’s goals under Resolution 381.

Looking ahead, Shreveport’s Clean Water Task Force will host public forums through March 2026 to incorporate community input into its policy direction. A comprehensive technical assessment is expected by November 18, which will include recommendations for treatment system improvements, funding mechanisms such as bonds and grants, and potential regulatory updates. Implementation efforts may include writing grant proposals, applying for state revolving funds, and soliciting public–private partners to support system upgrades like automated basin controls, advanced manganese removal technology, and wide-scale pipe replacement.

In confronting its water challenges, Shreveport is deploying a layered strategy: identifying and understanding contamination trends, aligning with proven funding models, and learning from the success of similar task forces nationwide. As the Clean Water Task Force progresses from planning to execution, the city aims to strengthen public health protections and ensure the long-term resilience of its water infrastructure.