DONALDSONVILLE - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals notified the Peoples Water System in Donaldsonville that it must immediately alter how it treats drinking water.

The directive comes after an inspection revealed elevated levels of chlorine dioxide in the system. Residents are also warned NOT to drink the water until DHH sends an update later this week. This effects around 10,000 residents.

The amount of chlorine dioxide in the system is as many as five times higher than the EPA standard. The chemical is used as disinfectant during water treatment, but too much can cause serious nervous system issues particularly for infants, young children and the fetuses of pregnant women.

State Health Officer Jimmy Guidry, MD says he can't be confirm if the results of the test were accurate since the test was conducted by Peoples Water System, but says they're issuing the warning out of "an abundance of caution".

Ascension Parish Public Schools said in a statement Tuesday night that they'll handout drinking water to students on Wednesday. Bottled water was also passed out Tuesday night at the Department of Public Works building on Thibaut Drive.