For Immediate Release: Friday, July 28, 2023 6:50 PM
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) continues repairs on a 60-inch sewer force main break at Station D, located at 2800 Florida Avenue. While testing the pipe for a hopeful return-to-service, SWBNO crews discovered a shallow leak on the bottom side of the pipe requiring additional remediation. SWBNO workers will dig through the weekend to access the leak and begin repairs.
“This sewer force main is over 60 years old. Due to the age of the pipe, we knew there was a possibility that additional leaks could be discovered during the repair process,” said Ghassan Korban, SWBNO Executive Director. “We are working expeditiously to repair the sewer force main and will update the community as soon as we have a revised timeline for completion.”
SWBNO prioritizes safety and is exploring various options and resources to address the situation.
On Friday, July 7, SWBNO initiated an emergency bypass to divert the flow to the Mississippi River—a crucial measure to prevent wastewater backups in homes—in accordance with all relevant federal and state regulatory authorities. There continue to be no reported impacts to customers.
SWBNO is closely monitoring the situation and will communicate any changes that may arise. SWBNO is also in ongoing communication with the relevant regulatory authorities as well as downstream water utilities.
For further information, please contact media@swbno.org.