Kaitlin Tymrak is officially in charge of keeping New Orleans’ water and drainage system upright at a very messy moment in its history. The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans has confirmed her as general superintendent, making her the first woman to lead the utility’s operations. The board voted unanimously on Wednesday to make the promotion permanent, moving Tymrak up from deputy and interim superintendent just as the agency faces repeated water-main breaks and lingering questions about pump reliability. She steps into the job previously held by Steve Nelson, who left to join Mayor Helena Moreno’s infrastructure team.
Board confirmation
The Sewerage & Water Board announced Tymrak’s promotion in a press release and on its executive roster, saying she will oversee drainage, water distribution and sewerage operations, according to the Sewerage & Water Board. Board members backed the move with a unanimous vote at a public meeting this week.
Her background
Tymrak joined the S&WB in 2020 and has been central to the agency’s Pumping and Power work, including the Power Complex project. She holds a master’s degree in water-resources planning and management from Colorado State University and previously worked for CH2M Hill before moving to New Orleans in 2008. "Women are typically underrepresented in the public works and engineering fields," Tymrak told NOLA.com, which reported the board set her annual pay at about $235,000.
Immediate tests: breaks, corrosion and power
Tymrak steps in as the utility deals with a run of major water-main ruptures and neighborhood flooding that have put extra heat on operations leadership. Recent coverage has spotlighted multiple large breaks this spring that crews have had to isolate and repair, as WDSU reported. At the same time, the Bureau of Governmental Research has flagged serious corrosion on discharge bells at key pump stations that could sideline pumps if they fail, highlighting funding gaps Tymrak now has to navigate, according to the Bureau of Governmental Research. The agency has also worked to modernize drainage power, officials told FOX 8.
What comes next
Tymrak will report to the S&WB governing board and work alongside Executive Director Randy Hayman as the utility develops a longer-term plan to assess its transmission mains and pumping stations, according to the Sewerage & Water Board. Mayor Helena Moreno has also put Tymrak on an advisory committee that is examining S&WB governance and funding, per reporting by NOLA.com. Officials say Tymrak’s immediate priorities will include scheduling inspections, stabilizing vulnerable mains and laying out funding options to voters and partners in the months ahead.
