St. Mary Parish County, Louisiana — public water systems

How does St. Mary Parish County compare with other Louisiana counties?

St. Mary Parish County has the 23rd-most active public water systems among the 79 counties listed for active Louisiana systems in EPA records; among the 59 with 3 or more systems, the median has 13. Its systems report 63,113 people served in total, the 21st-largest county figure in the state and 1.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,945 people, about 16% below the Louisiana average of 4,685. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does St. Mary Parish County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, St. Mary Parish County's active systems draw on surface water (7, 44%), groundwater (7, 44%) and purchased surface water (2, 13%). Overall, 44% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 56% on surface water, compared with 92% and 7.7% across Louisiana. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. The county's largest system, City of Morgan City Water System, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in St. Mary Parish County?

St. Mary Parish County's active systems break down as 12 community systems (75%), 2 non-transient non-community systems (13%) and 2 transient non-community systems (13%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (75%), private (19%) and state government (6.3%).