The Louisiana Department of Health issued a "do not use" water advisory for an area served by the Walnut Bayou Water System in Madison Parish after a water line break on Highway 603 near Verhagen Road resulted in drinking water being exposed to the chemical paraquat.
The exposure occurred as a farmer was filling a tank and the low pressure in the water line created a backflow of chemicals from the tank. Some customers have reported a strong chemical smell and taste in tap water following the exposure.