Natchitoches Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Natchitoches, Louisiana, in Natchitoches Parish — the Natchitoches Parish seat in northwest Louisiana, the oldest permanent European settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory (founded 1714), a National Historic Landmark on the Cane River — receives its municipal water from the City of Natchitoches Water Division, drawing from Cane River Lake (a former channel of the Red River, impounded as a scenic lake through Natchitoches).

The soft 57.5 mg/L hardness and low TDS of 97.9 mg/L reflect the Cane River-Red River watershed's Gulf Coastal Plain sandy character. The Cane River and Red River at Natchitoches drain the Gulf Coastal Plain of northwest Louisiana-east Texas — Eocene Wilcox Group (Carrizo Sand — fine calcareous sand, primary aquifer), Eocene Claiborne Group (calcareous fine sand), and Quaternary Red River alluvium (sandy floodplain deposits). The predominantly sandy Coastal Plain topography produces the soft water characteristic of the northwest Louisiana supply.

At 57.5 mg/L, Natchitoches' water is very soft — essentially no scale forms, soap lathers abundantly, and appliances maintain good efficiency. Annual descaling is sufficient. The PFAS level of 6.8 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter — the Barksdale Air Force Base (Bossier City-Shreveport — AFFF in the Red River watershed), the Red River industrial corridor (industrial Louisiana Red River), and the northwest Louisiana PFAS background contribute to Natchitoches' elevated readings.