A busted fire hydrant turned into a big headache for part of New Orleans East on Tuesday, after water pressure dipped below safe levels and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans issued a precautionary boil-water advisory. People in the affected blocks were told to stick to bottled water or boil their tap water before using it for drinking, cooking or brushing teeth until tests show the supply is safe. Crews were sent to the scene to isolate the break, and officials said they will alert residents once water testing begins.
Where the advisory applies
According to a press release from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, the advisory covers Hayne Boulevard from Paris Road to Bullard Avenue, Bullard Avenue from Hayne Boulevard to Morrison Road, Morrison Road from Bullard Avenue to Paris Road and Paris Road from Morrison Road to Hayne Boulevard. The release states that water pressure in the area dropped below 20 pounds per square inch after a hydrant was struck near Stonewood Street and Partridge Lane, and that SWBNO crews are working to isolate the break. The utility has set up a hotline at 504-52-WATER for questions and said it will notify residents when testing has started.
Why you are being told to boil
Water pressure below 20 psi can open the door for bacteriological contaminants to enter a water system, which is why officials move quickly and take a conservative approach when that threshold is breached. The city emergency-preparedness site NOLA Ready advises residents to bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute and to use bottled water for drinking, making ice or preparing infant formula while a precautionary advisory is in effect. Those measures are recommended in particular for vulnerable people, including infants and those with weakened immune systems.
System strain and political heat
This latest advisory comes amid a series of breaks that led SWBNO to roll out a Water Distribution System Immediate Action Plan in March aimed at stabilizing aging transmission mains, according to the utility’s own reporting. City Council members have publicly pressed the board over the repeated breaks and precautionary boil orders, calling the pace of repairs "grossly unacceptable," as Axios reported.
What residents should do and where to check
Until the advisory is lifted, residents in the affected area are urged to use bottled or boiled water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth, and to avoid swallowing tap water while bathing infants or people with compromised immune systems. The city boil-water guidance page lays out safe boiling methods and other recommended precautions, and testing typically takes about 24 hours before results are available. Updates are expected from the utility and city officials, and residents can call 504-52-WATER for more information.
