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

 

ALL NEW ORLEANS HAS CERTIFIED WATER

 

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 in the last remaining area of the city's lower ninth ward that did not have certified drinking water  (See Attached Letter)

 

The boil advisory, which has been in effect for this area since Hurricane Katrina, has been lifted as 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 north to Florida Avenue. It also includes the East Bank Sewer Treatment Plant at 6501 Florida Avenue.  This area in included within zip code 70117.

 

Mayor C. Ray Nagin, President of the Board stated, "Today we are able to provide safe drinking water to one of the most devastated areas of our city, the previously unserved area of the Lower 9^th Ward.  I congratulate the employees of the Sewerage and Water Board especially those workers at the Water Purification Plant and in the Networks Repair Department.  However, we still face major challenges in the restoration and rebuilding of the system for the future."

 

This action means that all New Orleans residents have access to certified drinking water.  Water sampling was done by Board personnel and the coliform tests were performed in the Board's DHH-certified bacteriological laboratory. Repairs done by Networks personnel have restored consistent and reliable water pressure to the area, and testing has shown good chlorine residuals at all sites.  Work must, of necessity, continue in order to repair leaks, but the area is now under control for water needs.

 

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.