Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Canceled for Uptown
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 11:46 AM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2019
Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Canceled for Uptown
New Orleans – The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), has canceled the precautionary boil water advisory for residents and businesses in the Uptown area of New Orleans after bacteriological tests confirmed that water in the area was safe to drink and could be used for personal needs.
Customers who have not used their water supply during this precautionary boil water advisory are advised to flush their internal and external plumbing by running water through their system for several minutes.
Water samples from across the Uptown area have tested negative for contamination. SWBNO is committed to providing safe drinking water, and this precautionary boil water advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution to ensure the public’s safety. We thank the impacted residents and businesses for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We also commend the fast and professional work of SWBNO employees from several departments and the excellent cooperation of LDH officials during this event.
Boil water advisories are issued out of an abundance whenever the water pressure drops below 20 psi. We agree with the recommendations of our regulatory partner, LDH, that it is prudent to issue these advisories. This precautionary boil water advisory was issued on Monday, October 14 when water pressure levels dropped below 20 psi due to a 48-inch diameter water main brake near the corner of Lowerline and Panola streets which caused water pressure to fall below 20 psi in the areas bounded by Carrollton Avenue, Interstate 10, the Pontchartrain Expressway, Calliope Street and the Mississippi River. As crews were returning water to the isolated area by opening the valves, water rushed in, but the pressure dropped again. This is likely because valves were opened too fast and too much. We quickly closed the valves when we saw the pressure drop, but it was too late to avoid another boil water advisory. Water pressure has stabilized, allowing the water quality testing to commence.