Understanding the Boil Water Advisory Process: Westbank (August 8–11, 2026)

The safety of the water flowing into every home is a responsibility SWBNO takes seriously. That's why, after any event like a water main break that triggers a precautionary Boil Water Advisory (BWA), SWBNO collects water quality samples to confirm that the water is safe to drink. Once pressure has been restored to the affected area, SWBNO collects water samples and tests them for total coliform bacteria, an indicator of possible microbial contamination. If a sample tests positive for total coliform, it's then tested for E. coli as well. If a sample doesn't test positive for total coliform, no further testing is needed. 

Because bacteria need time to grow in a lab sample, results typically take about 24 hours to come back. Once results confirm no coliform is present, SWBNO sends that data to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) for concurrence to lift the advisory. Beyond these event-driven tests, SWBNO also conducts routine bacteria sampling citywide every month, as required by LDH and the EPA, so water quality is being checked continuously, not just after something goes wrong. 

What happened after the August 7 water main break 

Following a water main break late in the evening on August 7 (early morning August 8th) where a water main was damaged by a contractor performing work in the area for a different agency, SWBNO began multiple rounds of testing. These samples were collected at locations already part of the routine monthly sampling program. 

On Saturday morning, August 8th, 32 samples were collected. Four came back positive for coliforms, including at two locations, 2501 and 3201 Memorial Park Drive, which tested positive for E. coli. Those two samples were taken while water pressure in that area was still low. That same afternoon, another 32 samples were collected, and four locations tested positive again, with the same two Memorial Park Drive addresses again showing E. coli. 

By Sunday morning, August 9, results were improving: 32 samples were collected and only three tested positive for coliform, including 3201 Memorial Park. No samples tested positive for E. coli on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, 41 samples were collected, with just two positive sample locations, both in the Memorial Park area. Based on those Sunday results, the boil water advisory was lifted, as approved by LDH, on August 10 (Monday) for the Westbank area, excluding Memorial Park. 

Because the Memorial Park area continued to show positive results, SWBNO kept that section under advisory and continued testing. On Monday morning, August 10, 8 samples were collected there, and one still tested positive for coliform. On Tuesday morning, August 11, an additional 8 samples were collected, which had no coliforms detected. A final round of samples was collected on Tuesday afternoon, after water pressure in a smaller area dropped below 20 psi due to hydrant flushing. These results were also negative to coliform. Due to these results, LDH approved of SWBNO’s recommendation to lift the BWA for the Memorial Park neighborhood. 

This kind of careful, repeated testing, even when it means keeping an advisory in place longer than residents might like, is required by state law and reflects SWBNO's commitment to public safety.