Press Releases

Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), is testing water quality samples, which may take up to 24 hours to achieve results. Until clear test results are back, a precautionary boil water advisory (BWA) remains in effect for a 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. SWBNO crews are continuing to repair the break, but most water service in the area has been restored. 

SWBNO crews are in the process of setting up temporary water service for customers without water and repair crews are working through the night to repair the water main. Residents who receive temporary water service will still need to follow the precautionary boil water advisory.

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 water line replacement work on S. Claiborne Ave. and Jefferson Ave.

As always, if you are experiencing no or low water pressure, please call 504-52-WATER - choose your language option (1 for English) and then press 1 for emergencies. 

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.