About Our Town’s Drinking Water
Mound Bayou gets its drinking water from two deep groundwater wells. These wells draw from a confined aquifer — meaning the water has been moving underground through layers of sand, clay, and earth for hundreds of years. This natural filtering process cleans the water, but it can also give it some color.
You may have noticed that the water from one of our wells has a darker color than the other. This is due to something called organic color, which comes from natural materials like tannins. Tannins are harmless compounds that come from decaying plants, and they can give water a yellow or brown “tea-like” appearance.
It’s important to know that this color does not mean the water is unsafe. The water is clean when it comes out of the well. We also add chlorine to keep it safe as it travels through the water system, and we test it regularly to meet all safety standards.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not require removal of this type of color because it doesn’t pose a health risk. However, we understand that the appearance can be unpleasant.
Mound Bayou is planning to drill another well that does not have as much color, but we will have to use this darker well between now and when that project is completed. The water is clean when it is pumped out of the well and the Town adds chlorine to keep it safe to drink as it moves through the distribution pipes. Rest assured the water is clean, treated, and safe to use.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mayor Leighton Aldridge.
Mayor Leighton Aldridge
Leighton Aldridge | CITY OF MOUND BAYOU | mayorleightonaldridge@gmail.com| 901.545.9898 |