Press Releases

New Orleans, LA - 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 East Bank of New Orleans.

While testing has passed for the majority of the East Bank of New Orleans, some areas remain under boil water advisory and testing is underway. The limited parts of New Orleans East and Venetian Isles that are still under boil water advisory includes:

• New Orleans East: Old Gentilly Rd from Jourdan Rd to Elaine St, Elaine St to Intracoastal Waterway, Intracoastal Waterway to Jourdan Rd
• New Orleans East: Hayne Blvd from Lucerne St to Wave Dr, Wave Dr to Morrison Ave, Morrison Ave from Wave Dr to Lucerne St, Lucerne St to Hayne Blvd 
• New Orleans East: All Venetian Isles

Water pressures in these areas fell below 20 pounds per square inch (psi) due to a power surge at the Carrollton Water Treatment plant. We are still investigating the source of the power surge.

A map of the area currently under a precautionary boil water advisory is here.

Samples have been collected for the areas that remain under the boil water advisory. We anticipate results to be available tomorrow.

Water pressure is increasing, and water quality testing is in progress. Results may take an additional 24 hours to achieve. Customers outside of the parameters above are not affected and do not need to boil their water. 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. 

Residents in the affected areas (listed above) 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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