The New Orleans City Council held a joint meeting of the Utility, Cable, Telecommunications, and Technology Committee and the Public Works, Sanitation, and Environment Committee on March 18 to address ongoing issues with the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO).
The meeting focused on recent water main breaks across the city, including those on Willow Street (Broadway to Calhoun), Magnolia/Jackson, and other locations. SWBNO reported that water pressure remains low in several affected areas, particularly around Audubon Boulevard and Willow Street. The board said it expects full service to be restored by April 3.
Committee members questioned why SWBNO did not prioritize repairs for certain lines earlier. SWBNO representatives acknowledged that some projects were deferred in favor of others at the time. The discussion revealed that there are currently 74 water main issues throughout the system and no clear public criteria for determining which repairs are addressed first.
Concerns were raised about how these problems impact residents, including low water pressure affecting facilities such as the New Orleans Public Library. Committee members advocated for interim solutions while long-term fixes are underway. Financial concerns were also discussed; each individual repair costs about $400,000 and is deducted from SWBNO’s $3.6 million annual emergency budget.
Committee members also criticized the board’s approach of addressing multiple concurrent breaks after they occur rather than taking preventive action. They noted that a lack of emergency meetings and slow engagement with the Council have made matters worse. In response, SWBNO emphasized the need for more funding to support long-term infrastructure replacement due to the aging system.
Progress was reported on resolving issues with Dwyer Canal, where a broken pipe has been identified and repaired along with ongoing cleaning efforts. However, residents continue to report severe odor problems in that area.
The council provided links for residents to view SWBNO’s full presentation, meeting agenda, and video recording of the session.
