OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Committee on Public Works, Sanitation, and the Environment – June 9, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, June 9, 2026
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:14
Transcript — Verbatim
3:49

Oh good morning, everyone.

3:50

Would I ask that you please take your seats.

3:52

Today is Tuesday, June 9th.

3:54

This is the committee on public works sanitation and the environment.

3:57

I'd ask that we please call the role.

4:00

Councilmember Hughes.

4:02

Councilmember Willard.

4:04

Councilmember McCarron.

4:06

Councilmember King.

4:09

We have five members.

4:30

But please say aye.

4:32

Any oppose that motion cars?

4:35

Alright, agenda item number three, uh, our favorite folks, original water board.

4:42

Uh, uh, good morning.

5:02

Good morning.

5:02

Uh, floor is yours.

5:04

Uh members of the committee, as always, I'm gonna ask that we allow uh sewage and water board to get through their entire presentation, and then at the end, uh certainly uh welcome your questions.

5:16

Good afternoon.

5:18

It's a pleasure to be with you this afternoon.

5:20

The morning.

5:21

Good morning.

5:22

The day is going fast.

5:25

Our agenda this morning will be the uh communications, upcoming meetings, customer portal milestones, water system.

5:32

We'll talk about the water main repairs, the prince quarter, the ledge service lines, and the water treatment updates.

5:38

We also will discuss training drainage systems, hurricane readiness, our DPS 7 discharge bell system, uh sewer system industrial canal update, Dwyer canal update, and the Washington Estra work.

5:55

Community engagement is a major part of what we have to do.

5:58

It's a major focus that we have at the sewage and water board.

6:02

I'm getting out into a community meeting, having town hall meetings.

6:06

In May, we held two meetings.

6:08

Uh we've completed two in June so far, and we have five more public meetings to do this month.

6:15

And so we're looking forward to being out into in the community.

6:18

It's been very engaging with the community, a lot of questions, and it's just good for the sewer and water board to be out there so they get to know what our goals are, what our strategies are, and we're able to listen to them.

6:30

With the portal customer engagement, the electronic efforts that we have, over 100,000 registered accounts at this time.

6:39

That's 75%.

6:41

And then we also have done well with the auto pay and the paperless sign-up as well.

6:47

And so we're moving forward with that, making better and better connections.

6:52

We're now going to why do we make water main repairs with Caitlin?

6:56

Yes.

6:57

Good morning, committee members.

6:58

Uh, happy to be here again with you all.

7:00

Uh, have some um good updates to share at uh the we have uh did an investigation and some repairs at the leak on South Clayborne and Third Street.

7:10

Uh that was an ongoing issue.

7:12

Uh we know caused some traffic disruption.

7:14

Uh we did find two leaking joints on the water main there, which we were able to repair.

7:20

Uh 4800 Florida was also uh one of those locations that was identified as a water main leak, potentially on a very large water main that we wanted to address as part of our immediate action plan.

7:31

Uh what we found there instead was a leak on a six-inch water line as well as a leak on a sewer line in that area.

7:39

And so we are presently um underway working on repairs for that uh location, and um the Florida Bridge Avenue Bridge does remain closed at this time.

7:49

We understand that this is an ongoing disruption to the Lower Ninth Ward community, and they are concerned about continuing traffic impacts um due to the uh the traffic detours uh for the uh the EMR Southern Recycling location.

8:01

Uh, we are hopeful that within the next two weeks we will be able to get that uh the traffic details all squared away and be able to return the Florida Avenue Bridge to service.

8:11

Um, along those lines with that, um, you know, we'll be continuing to work with DPW on those traffic areas uh and make sure that we are coordinating appropriately with DPW and DOT regarding those traffic detours.

8:24

Again, hoping to be able to return that uh the Florida Avenue Bridge to full service within the next couple of weeks.

8:30

Um there's been some additional ongoing um items.

8:33

Uh in particular, um, you all are aware we had a uh precautionary well water advisory last week due to repair that was ongoing in the Lake Vista area.

8:41

Uh ultimately uh there is a water eight-inch water line there that we feel just needs to be fully replaced uh due to some repeat uh issues along that street.

8:50

So we are ordering those parts and continuing to make repairs, uh point repairs as we can in that area.

8:56

We know this is a disruption there as well, and uh want to be able to return that to uh full service with with no disruptions going forward.

9:06

And then last but certainly not least on this slide, um, we know there was a major impact to the Lorem Garden District last week.

9:13

Uh, we were doing a closure for a DPW project to install a 20-inch uh valve on camp street.

9:20

And even though we had originally done a test closure that identified the area that would be out of water during this time, unfortunately, what we found during uh the construction was an additional 12-inch valve that was broken, and so unfortunately we had to expand that disrupted area rather significantly.

9:27

Uh we did do you know as much communication as we could at that time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████████████86%
Public Engagement██4%
Engineering And Infrastructure██4%
Community Engagement██3%
Economic Development█1%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Committee on Public Works, Sanitation, and the Environment Meeting – June 9, 2026

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) presented a wide-ranging update on infrastructure projects, hurricane preparedness, drainage system status, and regulatory issues. Council members expressed frustration with delays, lack of clear timelines, and trust deficits, while also acknowledging some progress. No formal votes were taken on substantive matters; the meeting concluded with public comment and adjournment.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Willie Thompson (resident): Reported ongoing flooding at 1062 Ozintele Road, stating the issue has persisted for years without resolution. Council Chairman Hughes promised follow-up by his constituent services director.
  • Rick Sinclair (corrosion industry professional, 44 years experience): Alerted SWBNO to potential microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) in drainage pumps at the London Street station, which he believes is more extensive than previously recognized. He offered to share technical information and urged early mitigation to avoid costly replacements.
  • Sage Michael (community advocate): Thanked SWBNO for improvements along the Dwyer Canal and noted fewer reports of large odors. She called for better management communication and referenced a new pump subcommittee created by mayoral executive order, asking how it will interact with existing governance. She encouraged public attendance at SWBNO board meetings.

Discussion Items

  • SWBNO Opening Presentation:

    • Customer portal: Over 100,000 registered accounts (75% of total); auto-pay and paperless sign-up progressing.
    • Water main repairs: Leaks on South Claiborne & Third Street repaired; repairs ongoing at 4800 Florida Avenue (6-inch water line and sewer line leak); Florida Avenue Bridge remains closed, with a tentative reopening within two weeks. Lake Vista area experiencing repeat water line issues; an 8-inch line replacement is planned. Lower Garden District: a broken 12-inch valve caused an expanded water outage; SWBNO will meet with Councilmember Harris and neighborhood leaders.
    • French Quarter Transmission Main: Final block (900 Decatur) under 24-hour construction. Overall project on track for September 2026. A sign incorrectly showing September 2027 was noted; Council Vice President Willard requested immediate replacement. Fence removal imminent on 600 block; 1100 block concrete poured; 1000 block expected end of June. Sidewalk restoration to follow.
    • Lead Service Line Program: Senate Bills 268 and 228 passed; SB 268 requires municipalities to create ordinances for property access. Chairman Hughes flagged that the city of New Orleans does not govern SWBNO, creating coordination challenges. SWBNO aims to replace both public and private sides at no cost to customers, with a large communication campaign later in 2026.
    • Water Treatment: Corrosion control pilot testing started June 8 in Algiers. State capital outlay application for $50 million over five years: $9.5 million approved for this year, $4.5 million for future years. First three projects: upgrade flow controllers at Clare Barn Filter Gallery, rehabilitate raw water intakes at Oak Street, improve lime storage at central plant.
    • Hurricane Preparedness: Internal tabletop exercise completed; participated in mayor's departmental meeting and press conference. New power complex with static frequency changers (retired Turbine 4 after 73 years). Pump status: 87 of 93 major drainage pumps available. Outages noted at Stations 6 (bearing work, return July), 13 (Algiers, two pumps out – one emergency use), 14 (New Orleans East, one of four out), 15 (discharge piping replacement), 18 (Village de L’Est, temporary pump installed), and Carrollton underpass (three permanent pumps inoperable, temporary pump installed, contract awarded for permanent repairs).
    • Drainage Network: Cleaned 6.5 miles of drain lines and 1,506 catch basins; removed 1.4 million pounds of debris per year. Only about 9% of catch basins cleaned annually; goal is 20%.
    • DPS 7 Discharge Bells: Corrosion documented since 2012; estimated $12–15 million to replace all three bells. Inspection planned this summer (weather permitting). Similar issue at Station 5 (Lower Ninth Ward). No funding identified for repairs.
    • Industrial Canal: 54-inch sewer force main damaged April 17; no ongoing sewer discharge, recreational advisory lifted. Repair is a multi-month process. SWBNO will aggressively pursue compensation from the responsible party.
    • Dwyer Canal: Repairs completed on Galahad, Bonita, and Lowerline streets. Dye testing continues on remaining streets; aim to finish six streets by end of June. Warning to avoid contact with canal water remains in effect. New website for updates coming in a few weeks.
    • Public outreach: Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and flushable wipes awareness campaigns. Councilmember Hughes suggested working with retailers on labeling.

  • Councilmember King: Requested SWBNO investigate why a block on Wilkerson Street (no construction) remains closed, causing parking issues for restaurants and residents.

  • Councilmember McCarron: Pressed SWBNO on the urgency of discharge bell repairs, noting that a failure could have severe consequences. Acknowledged funding constraints but demanded a clear list of top priorities. SWBNO Executive Director committed to providing top 3–5 priorities.

  • Councilmember Green: Thanked SWBNO for community meetings and work crews. Raised two specific issues: (1) North Derbigny and Louisa Street – rushing water near a playground and new homes, requesting priority inspection; (2) 3600 Desire Parkway – a water main serving a medical facility, gym, and school was shut off due to a meter location issue; water restored but meter identification needed. He asked SWBNO to ensure accurate billing and better locate meters.

  • Council Vice President Willard:

    • Decatur project: Urged accelerating the timeline and correcting the sign to show September 2026.
    • Hurricane readiness: Questioned backup generator rentals (standard practice) and Carrollton underpass pump repairs (contract awarded, work this summer).
    • Drainage debris: Asked if litter quantity can be quantified. (Not currently.)
    • Discharge bells: Confirmed Station 5 also corroded; asked what happens if bells fail (pumps lose suction, detectable). No funding for repairs yet.
    • Industrial canal: Asked about Lake water quality testing (Pontchartrain Conservancy monitors; no issues).
    • Property damage claims: Acknowledged SWBNO risk department handles claims.

  • Chairman Hughes:

    • Senate Bill 268: Noted that municipalities are responsible for notification (certified mail), but New Orleans City does not control SWBNO. Urged immediate intergovernmental coordination to avoid failures.
    • Specific addresses: 4800 Coronado (nine-month issue, crew seen that morning, demanded report within 24 hours); 1400 Charbonnet (Rising Sun senior living facility – street torn up, raw sewage smell, need immediate answer).
    • Florida Avenue Bridge: Pushed for a finite deadline. SWBNO General Superintendent set goal of repair completion by end of the week.
    • Flooding in New Orleans East over the weekend: Chairman expressed terror for hurricane season. SWBNO explained high-intensity rain overwhelmed catch basins; will expand cleaning along Read and Crowder.
    • Furloughs: Suggested tiered furloughs for employees earning over $100,000. SWBNO Executive Director said nothing is off the table but noted staff vacancies and workload.
    • Lead service line: Asked why public notification is delayed until end of year; SWBNO said early work with schools is ongoing, community meetings already include information.
    • Accountability: Promised aggressive litigation if necessary for the industrial canal spill.

Key Outcomes

  • Florida Avenue Bridge: SWBNO committed to completing repair by end of week (June 12–13, 2026), with restoration to follow.
  • 4800 Coronado: SWBNO to report back to Chairman Hughes within 24 hours.
  • 1400 Charbonnet (Rising Sun facility): SWBNO to provide a plan and timeline by the end of the meeting day.
  • Wilkerson Street closure: SWBNO to investigate and email Councilmember King.
  • North Derbigny and Louisa Street: SWBNO to prioritize inspection of reported rushing water.
  • 3600 Desire Parkway: SWBNO to locate the water meter and ensure correct billing.
  • Decatur Street sign: Council Vice President Willard requested immediate replacement of sign showing 2027 with correct 2026 date.
  • Discharge bells: SWBNO to conduct dewatering inspection this summer and provide top-priority funding needs.
  • Catch basin cleaning: SWBNO to expand cleaning in New Orleans East following weekend flooding and report on percentage of system cleaned.
  • Industrial canal spill: SWBNO to pursue compensation and keep council updated on litigation.
  • Dwyer Canal warning: SWBNO aims to complete street repairs by end of June, then reassess water contact advisory.
  • Lead service line program: SWBNO to begin larger public awareness campaign by end of 2026, with earlier engagement at community meetings.
  • Senate Bill 268 coordination: SWBNO to work with city legal departments to clarify notification responsibilities.
  • Next meeting: July meeting to include SWBNO, public works, and Lincoln Beach agenda items.

Meeting Transcript

Oh good morning, everyone. Would I ask that you please take your seats. Today is Tuesday, June 9th. This is the committee on public works sanitation and the environment. I'd ask that we please call the role. Councilmember Hughes. Councilmember Willard. Councilmember McCarron. Councilmember King. We have five members. But please say aye. Any oppose that motion cars? Alright, agenda item number three, uh, our favorite folks, original water board. Uh, uh, good morning. Good morning. Uh, floor is yours. Uh members of the committee, as always, I'm gonna ask that we allow uh sewage and water board to get through their entire presentation, and then at the end, uh certainly uh welcome your questions. Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be with you this afternoon. The morning. Good morning. The day is going fast. Our agenda this morning will be the uh communications, upcoming meetings, customer portal milestones, water system. We'll talk about the water main repairs, the prince quarter, the ledge service lines, and the water treatment updates. We also will discuss training drainage systems, hurricane readiness, our DPS 7 discharge bell system, uh sewer system industrial canal update, Dwyer canal update, and the Washington Estra work. Community engagement is a major part of what we have to do. It's a major focus that we have at the sewage and water board. I'm getting out into a community meeting, having town hall meetings. In May, we held two meetings. Uh we've completed two in June so far, and we have five more public meetings to do this month. And so we're looking forward to being out into in the community. It's been very engaging with the community, a lot of questions, and it's just good for the sewer and water board to be out there so they get to know what our goals are, what our strategies are, and we're able to listen to them. With the portal customer engagement, the electronic efforts that we have, over 100,000 registered accounts at this time. That's 75%. And then we also have done well with the auto pay and the paperless sign-up as well. And so we're moving forward with that, making better and better connections. We're now going to why do we make water main repairs with Caitlin? Yes. Good morning, committee members. Uh, happy to be here again with you all. Uh, have some um good updates to share at uh the we have uh did an investigation and some repairs at the leak on South Clayborne and Third Street. Uh that was an ongoing issue. Uh we know caused some traffic disruption. Uh we did find two leaking joints on the water main there, which we were able to repair. Uh 4800 Florida was also uh one of those locations that was identified as a water main leak, potentially on a very large water main that we wanted to address as part of our immediate action plan. Uh what we found there instead was a leak on a six-inch water line as well as a leak on a sewer line in that area. And so we are presently um underway working on repairs for that uh location, and um the Florida Bridge Avenue Bridge does remain closed at this time. We understand that this is an ongoing disruption to the Lower Ninth Ward community, and they are concerned about continuing traffic impacts um due to the uh the traffic detours uh for the uh the EMR Southern Recycling location. Uh, we are hopeful that within the next two weeks we will be able to get that uh the traffic details all squared away and be able to return the Florida Avenue Bridge to service. Um, along those lines with that, um, you know, we'll be continuing to work with DPW on those traffic areas uh and make sure that we are coordinating appropriately with DPW and DOT regarding those traffic detours.

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