Brownfields in the City of Shreveport - The City of Shreveport is dedicated to the redevelopment of “Brownfields” sites (properties that have been unused or underutilized over the years due to actual or perceived environmental contamination). We administer a Brownfields revolving loan fund which can assist with the cleanup of such sites. Non-profits may be eligible for grants instead of loans. We can also work to provide links to other resources that may be available for assessing and/or cleaning up these sites.

• For more information,  contact Wes Wyche, Environmental Services Manager, at (318) 673-6072 or wes.wyche@shreveportla.gov.

The City of Shreveport is actively involved in protecting the quality of water in our local water bodies, including Red River, Cross Lake, and numerous streams and water bodies. Cross Lake, our drinking water supply source, receives special attention in this regard, for obvious reasons.

The Stormwater Section

The Stormwater Section of the Environmental Service Office monitors the quality of water throughout the city's storm water collection system to determine whether water bodies are being adversely impacted by pollution from construction activities, industry, erosion, and runoff from streets and highways.

When problems are noted, appropriate enforcement action is taken.

LAND ALTERING ACTIVITIES

Construction Site Water Quality Problems

Sediment runoff from construction sites can be significant and can impair streams, lakes, and rivers. This erosion is caused by stream bed scouring and habitat degradation, shoreline erosion, and stream bank widening, loss of fish population, and increased frequency of downstream flooding.

In addition, sediment often carries with it high loadings of metals, nutrients (such as phosphorus and nitrogen), and other pollutants which adversely affect the quality of downstream water bodies.

Construction Site Requirements

Certain permits and erosion control/pollution prevention practices are required:

• Is the site in question a commercial or residential subdivision (or a lot within a commercial or residential subdivision)?
• If yes, this site is a commercial or residential subdivision (or a lot within a commercial or residential subdivision) then is the site in the city limits?
  • If yes, the site is in the city limits.
  • If no, the site is not in the city limits.
• If no, this site is a not a commercial or residential subdivision (or a lot within a commercial or residential subdivision).

INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Industrial Pollution

Industries can affect water quality in two ways:

1. Through the direct discharge of their process wastewater.
2. Through storm water which comes into contact with chemicals and other pollutants at the site and then washes offsite.

Most all industries are aware that the direct end of pipe discharge of wastewater from their industrial process requires a permit, issued by the state (or, if the discharge is to the city's sanitary sewer system, issued by the city's pretreatment section). However, many industries may not be aware that storm water runoff from their facility is also subject to regulation.

Storm water flows over and through an industrial facility, picking up pollutants from outdoor spills and leaking or dirty objects and taking these pollutants to our bayous, lakes, and rivers.

Industrial Facility Pollution Control Requirements

Federal, state, and city regulations now require certain classes of industries to obtain storm water permits and to implement pollution prevention practices.

• Who needs an industrial storm water permit?
• How do you get permitted?
• What are the possible exemptions from a permit?

REPORTING POLLUTION

Do Your Part
Don't pour used motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, fertilizers, or other pollutants down the storm drainage system. Remember, all storm sewers in Shreveport drain to Red River or Cross Lake without benefit of treatment.

Report illegal dumping by calling 318-673-6583.

OTHER RESOURCES

Non-Point Source Pollution

Fertilizers - Learn more about how fertilizers can harm the environment and water supply.
Herbicides - Find out more about safely using herbicides on your property.
Litter (Floatables) - Browse advice on keeping litter out of the waterways.
Pesticides - Get more information on pesticides and how they harm the water supply.

Storm Water Monitoring Program

Learn about how storm water is monitored.

Cross Lake serves as the City's drinking water supply source, and also is a major recreational and aesthetic asset for the area. The city has two full time Environmental Control Officers who are responsible for patrolling the lake and surrounding watershed to ensure that potential pollution threats to the lake are under control. They are based at the city's fish hatchery, and also oversee operations at the hatchery, which is funded jointly by the city and BassLife.

To report a matter concerning the lake or its tributaries or to obtain information on the lake or watershed, contact the watershed office at (318) 673-7647, or e-mail Bobby Johnson.

Non-Native Weeds

One of the major challenges facing the lake at present is the rapid proliferation of non-native nuisance weeds such as giant salvinia and hydrilla. The City has programs in place to manage these weeds, including application of herbicides (rated for use in drinking water supplies) and biological controls (such as grass carp for hydrilla and weevils for giant salvinia). In 2013, the City entered into a partnership with the LSU AgCenter on a project which utilizes the lake as a “living laboratory” to monitor the effectiveness of weevils in controlling giant salvinia.

Industrial Pretreatment Program

The City's sanitary sewerage system is primarily designed to handle and treat domestic wastewater. After treatment at one of the City's two wastewater treatment plants, the water is clean and can then be discharged to the Red River.

The City's system is not designed to treat for many chemicals and pollutants which are contained in industrial wastewater.

Nevertheless, in many cases, the City's system can accommodate industrial wastewater which is properly "pretreated" by the industry and which meets the City's specifications and requirements.

The Pre-treatment Section of the Environmental Services Office administers the City's industrial pre-treatment program.

Click link to pay Water & Sewer Pretreatment Online Payment

See Facility Block Flow Diagram

Please select from the following list of application forms:

• Industrial Pretreatment Permit
• Industrial Pretreatment Food Services Permit

FAQs

1. Why have industrial pre-treatment?
2. How does the pretreatment program work?