Boil water advisory lifted for large area of New Orleans after Uptown water main break
Officials say their goal is to have South Claiborne Avenue reopened to traffic by Friday.
The Sewerage and Water Board has lifted the boil water advisory that affected a large portion of the city following a water main break on South Claiborne Avenue. The advisory, which lasted just over 24 hours, covered neighborhoods including Uptown, the Garden District, Central City, the Central Business District, Broadmoor, Gert Town, the French Quarter, and Leonidas.
The break occurred near Toledano Street, forcing officials to temporarily shut off water while crews worked to make repairs. The advisory was issued as a precaution due to a drop in water pressure, which can increase the risk of contamination. Several local schools closed while crews repaired the main and collected water samples for testing.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, SWBNO Executive Director Randy Hayman said the advisory had been lifted, meaning residents can now safely use tap water for drinking and cooking. He noted that residents may still notice low water pressure and said those with issues can call SWBNO at 504-52-WATER.
Hayman explained that the affected pipe was about 88 years old and unrelated to the city’s 2025 transmission project, which connects new pipes to old ones. The water buildup at the intersection was largely due to leaks caused by last month’s freeze, and the broken pipe had already been scheduled for repair the day it failed. A section of the pipe will now be replaced.
“We’re still evaluating the situation to see what did happen,” Hayman added.
Addressing broader concerns about the city’s aging water system, Hayman acknowledged the challenges residents face. He said he wants the SWBNO to explore new technologies, such as pipe sleeves and leak detection systems, to better maintain the network and prevent future breaks.
Funding constraints, however, continue to limit their efforts, he added.
“The bottom line is, we have an old system, and until we have a repair program that routinely replaces and repairs the system, we’re going to have situations like this,” Hayman said. “But I’m thinking, if we use new technology and new processes, we can think of ways to that are cheaper, and then if we get the monies we need from Washington and from Baton Rouge, we’ll be in a situation we could get on a healthy path of repairing our system.”
The eastbound lanes of South Claiborne Avenue remain closed from Louisiana Avenue to General Taylor Street as crews continue repairs. Officials say their goal is to have South Claiborne Avenue reopened to traffic by Friday.