DONALDSONVILLE - Louisiana's state health officer says it will be at least two to three days before residents of Donaldsonville can begin drinking their tap water again.

Residents of the town southeast of Baton Rouge were advised not to drink the water this week after an inspection showed the possibility that it contained levels of chlorine dioxide surpassing federal environmental guidelines. Elevated levels of the chemical can cause health problems.  The situation had not changed as of Friday morning. 

Dr. Jimmy Guidry said Thursday that the state has approved a plan by the privately run Peoples Water Service Co. to begin disinfecting with chlorine instead of chlorine dioxide. Implementing and testing will take two to three days.

Guidry said the "do not drink" advisory was issued out of an "abundance of caution" after the department learned of one test indicating an elevated level of chlorine dioxide