Press Releases

Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), has canceled the precautionary boil water advisory as bacteriological tests confirmed that water in the area was safe to drink and could be used for personal needs. The advisory was in effect for the Lower 9th Ward, Holy Cross and Bywater neighborhoods which included:

• The entire Lower 9th Ward
• The area bounded by Franklin Ave, The Intercoastal Waterway, Florida Ave and Mississippi River

A map of the area that was under the precautionary boil water advisory is here.

Water pressures in this area fell below 20 pounds per square inch (psi) due to a water main break near Florida Blvd. Plans are in the works to make a full repair. The main break still needs to be addressed, but water pressures are now stable. 

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 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 also commend the fast and professional work of our 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.  

We thank the impacted residents and businesses for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and wish everyone a happy holiday weekend.