Press Releases

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has issued a precautionary boil water advisory (BWA) for a limited portion of Uptown, which includes:

• S. Claiborne Ave. from Calhoun St. to Toledano St.
• Toledano St from S. Claiborne Ave. to Tchoupitoulas St.
• Tchoupitoulas St. from Toledano St. to Exposition Blvd.
• Exposition St. from Tchoupitoulas St. to St Charles Ave.
• St Charles Ave. from Exposition Blvd. to Calhoun St.
• Calhoun St. from St. Charles Ave. to S. Claiborne St.

A map of the area currently under a precautionary boil water advisory is here.

Water pressures in this area fell below 20 pounds per square inch (psi) due to a break on the 30’’ transmission main on Claiborne Ave. near Octavia St.

An existing 120-year-old 30 inch cast iron water transmission main on S. Claiborne Ave. just to the west of Octavia St. failed today during an insertion of a line stop for water main transmission line at S. Claiborne Ave. and Jefferson Ave.

Water valves in area need to be closed to make necessary repairs to the 30” water line. We anticipate some customers on S. Claiborne Ave. will be without water until the repair is complete. Currently the contractor is on site and attempting to make repairs and they will continue to work until repairs are complete.

Water quality samplers will begin collecting samples for testing this afternoon after 4 p.m. Results may take up to 24 hours to achieve. Customers in other areas of the city are not affected and do not need to boil their water.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to use bottled or boiled tap water to drink, cook, clean food or brush teeth until further notice. Residents with compromised immune systems should also use safe water to wash hands, shower, or bathe. 

SWBNO, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), issues boil water advisories out of an abundance of caution for areas where water pressure drops below 20 psi.

We agree with the recommendations of LDH that it is prudent to issue these advisories out of an abundance of caution. The concern is that a pressure drop inside a water pipe could allow bacteriological contaminants to enter.

Continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during a boil water advisory by washing your hands often with boiled or bottled water.

Healthy adults should take the following precautions:

• Washing hands: Use soap and tap water, dry hands, then apply hand sanitizer; the safest option is to wash with bottled or boiled water.    
• Showering or bathing: Be careful not to swallow any water. Infants, young children and disabled persons should be supervised to ensure water is not ingested. Residents with open wounds, chronic illness or weakened immune systems should use boiled or bottled water to bathe until the advisory is lifted.

SWBNO will notify residents when the boil water advisory is canceled. If you have any questions, please call 52-WATER (504-529-2837).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOILING WATER

Bring water to a rolling boil in a clean container for a full minute. If the water has a flat taste afterward, shake it in a bottle or pour it from one container to another.

Please review general and LDH recommendations for managing a boil water advisory at ready.nola.gov/plan/boil-water

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