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.
SWBNO Opening Presentation:
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:
Chairman Hughes:
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.