To: News Media
From: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Re:Urgent
Contact: Robert Jackson, 451-0566  or
              Brenda Thornton, 495-9734
For Immediate Release

Drinking Water Update
Boil Water Advisory Lifted In Portion Of Orleans Parish Lower Ninth Ward

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans issues the following statement:

 

New Orleans - State health officials have concurred with a request from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to lift the boil water advisory for a targeted area of the city's Lower Ninth Ward.

 

The boil advisory, which was issued after a loss of pressure occurred after Hurricane Katrina, has been lifted since testing shows the water does not contain unsafe levels of bacteria and is safe to drink and use.

 

The area where the advisory is lifted is that area of Orleans Parish east of the Industrial Canal extending to the St. Bernard Parish line, and from North Derbigny Street south to the Mississippi River. This area is included in zip code 70117.

 

Citizens who are returning to the approved area are asked to run both hot and cold taps for 10 to 15 minutes to flush the plumbing systems of their homes and businesses.

 

A boil advisory remains in effect for the remaining area of the Lower Ninth Ward. Specifically it is that part of Orleans Parish from the Industrial Canal to the St. Bernard Parish line, and from North Derbigny Street north to Florida Avenue. Any persons in this area are reminded not to drink, make ice from, brush teeth, wash hands, prepare or rinse food with tap water unless it has been properly disinfected until further notice. They, too, should run both hot and cold taps for 10 to 15 minutes to flush the plumbing systems of their homes and businesses.

 

Further information may be obtained from the Sewerage and Water Board website at swbno.org.