The City of Franklin has been found in violation of drinking water requirements, and is working to correct the issue. 

The city is required to monitor the drinking water for turbidity on a continuous basis and report findings to the Louisiana Department of Health. 

During the October compliance monitoring period, the Franklin water system was in violation of the surface water treatment rule due to the water turbidity not being monitored continuously (every 15 minutes), according to a statement from the city. 

The exceedance of the required turbidity limit was not reported to the LDH, and upon investigation the turbidity level exceeded the maximum allowable limit of 1.499 treatment units. 

Franklin has been under a boil water advisory since August, and the city said that advisory will continue until water treatment comes into compliance with the LDH. 

If residents have specific health concerns, the city advises that residents consult a doctor. If residents have a severely compromised immune system, have an infant, are pregnant or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your health care providers about drinking the water. 

Tests taken during the timeframe of the violations did not indicate the presence of bacteria in the water, and turbidity (or cloudiness) has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. 

As of August, the Franklin water system turbidity monitoring equipment has been recording data on a continuous basis and has been reported to the LDH and a local engineering firm every day since October. 

According to a report submitted to the LDH, the Franklin water system maintains they were in compliance and has data to show that, but the city says the data was rejected by the LDH.