Baton Rouge Water Company says industry needs to stop drawing water from aquifer.
As the water supply under Baton Rouge slowly fills with salt, some officials have called on companies like ExxonMobil and Georgia Pacific to stop tapping the aquifer for industrial uses, depleting the supply.
The privately-owned Baton Rouge Water Company wants tighter restrictions.
Authorities aren’t sure how long the aquifer has left before the groundwater under Baton Rouge is completely contaminated with salt.
And Exxon already pulls about half its water from the Mississippi River, said Todd Talbot, who was recently chosen to represent the company on the groundwater commission.
She said she tried to pass a state law restricting industrial sites to using river water.
However, Louisiana law will have to change if politicians want to force industrial sites to stop collecting water from the aquifer.
When the public drinking supply switches over to Mississippi River water, it will cost three times as much and taste one third as good, he predicted.
Louisiana’s other groundwater commission has had some success reducing pumping.
"You drive through Louisiana and you wouldn’t think we’re a water-poor state," she remarked.