Bayou Cane Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Waterworks District provides public drinking water to Bayou Cane and surrounding communities — including Bayou Blue, Bourg, Chauvin, Dulac, Gray, Montegut, Presquille, and Schriever — in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The primary source is groundwater extracted from multiple wells tapping the Evangeline and Jasper Aquifers. Treatment occurs at parish-operated plants employing filtration, disinfection, and corrosion control, serving over 40,000 residents in this coastal region south of Houma, Louisiana.

The supply originates within the Atchafalaya-Terrebonne Basin watershed, a vast deltaic plain shaped by repeated Mississippi River flooding and part of the expansive Mississippi Embayment aquifer system. Key formations include the unconsolidated sands and clays of the Pleistocene Evangeline Aquifer and the underlying Pliocene Jasper Aquifer, overlying Miocene limestones. This carbonate-rich sedimentary geology — enriched by marine and fluvial deposits — imparts a hard character to the water through mineral dissolution, exacerbated by proximity to brackish coastal influences that concentrate dissolved solids.

At very hard levels, scale buildup is severe, rapidly coating pipes, heaters, and fixtures and reducing efficiency and lifespan. Water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers are most affected, with mineral deposits clogging elements and valves. Regular deliming every 6–12 months is essential; a water softener is strongly recommended to prevent spotting, dry skin and hair, and plumbing failures — potentially saving 20–30% on energy bills. Conductivity often exceeds 250 ppm TDS for over 100 days annually due to coastal intrusion. Third-party testing flags health guideline exceedances for chromium-6 and radiologicals; treatment includes chlorination, aeration for iron and manganese, and pH adjustment to 7.5–8.5 for corrosion control.