Water-Wise in BR

 

HAVE WE ALWAYS USED THIS MUCH GROUNDWATER IN BATON ROUGE?

In Baton Rouge's early day, many people used cisterns to collect rainwater, dug shallow wells, or drew water from nearby streams and bayous. For the most part, these weren't very clean sources of water. Since the late 1800s, though, wells drilled deep into the ground have yielded up clean, fresh supplies of water in large quantities. By the early 1900s, total groundwater use was maybe five or six million gallons a day. Today, that number is closer to 150 million gallons a day. What accounts for this difference? Two simple factors: population growth and industrial expansion. Below are some numbers and timelines to consider.

  East Baton Rouge Parish - Population Growth

1920: 45,000
2010: 440,000

East Baton Rouge Parish - Industrial Growth

1909: Standard Oil arrives in Baton Rouge.
1920s-1930s: Additional industries relocate, drawn to Baton Rouge's supportive business climate, natural resources, and strategic location on the Mississippi River close to the Gulf of Mexico.
1940s: World War II fuels tremendous industrial growth.
1950s-1970: "Sunbelt Era" in Baton Rouge; major industries directly supply more than a third of entire parish payroll.
1980s-Today: Downsizing and diversification lead to reduced footprint, but industry remains a vital part of local economy.


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