Mayor Helena Moreno discusses water main repairs, sanitation fee audit

The New Orleans mayor has addressed the Sewerage and Water Board’s six-step plan to tackle ongoing water main breaks. The plan calls for urgent repairs at high-risk water mains and assessing the condition of older ones. Mayor Helena Moreno acknowledged that funding these repairs will be a significant task and is already exploring solutions to bring in money. According to the Sewerage and Water Board, some projects, like replacing 34 miles of older mains, could cost up to $680 million. Moreno said the action report is a step in the right direction.”I think it’s a start, but now we need to get into super specifics of it. I think it’s enough to get us going,” Moreno said. “My immediate concerns are around the pattern we’re seeing uptown. How do we start getting those dollars in, figure out vulnerabilities as well?” This comes as the Sewerage and Water Board is scheduled to appear before a New Orleans City Council committee Wednesday to provide an update on the recent break near Audubon Boulevard. The meeting is set for 10 a.m.Meanwhile, Moreno also announced plans to conduct an audit to ensure an accurate count of the number of households in New Orleans as discussions about raising the sanitation fee continue. She said having the correct number to appropriately calculate the proposed fee is of high importance. However, the audit could lead to a delay in voting on the sanitation fee hike.