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 Gentilly and New Orleans East, which includes:

• Republic Street from Broad Street to St. Bernard Ave.
• The entire Oak Island subdivision

Water pressures in this area fell below 20 pounds per square inch (psi) due to an emergency closure a 50” water transmission main serving parts of Gentilly, New Orleans East, and the Upper and Lower Ninth Wards. 

Due to the emergency closure, customers on Republic Street from Broad Street to St. Bernard Ave. should be the only blocks that are out of water due to the emergency repair on the 50” water main at St Bernard Ave. and Duels Street. 

Water pressure in the area has dropped in the area on average 10 psi to 15 psi, so some customers may be experiencing lower-than-normal water pressures.

A map of the area currently under a precautionary boil water advisory can be found here: www.swbno.org/news/boilwater

SWBNO crews are onsite and are isolating the water main to make the full repair and restore water pressures. SWBNO will notify residents once water quality testing has begun. 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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