The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans has issued four boil water advisories and five water and sewer main breaks just this year. The latest main break came on March 9, flooding homes and cars and placing a large portion of the East Bank, including the Tulane University community, under a boil water advisory.

Nearly one-third of New Orleans’ water mains have been in operation for 100 or more years, which is generally the age that experts recommend they be replaced. Over time, the pipes’ infrastructure deteriorates and becomes more likely to allow contaminants and bacteria from groundwater to seep in when water pressure dips. 

A boil water advisory is a precautionary warning issued when the water supply could potentially be contaminated. It asks residents to avoid ingesting tap water to minimize the risk of illness. 

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno held a press conference on March 10 to address the issue. 

“I’m sick and tired of you telling me these are old pipes and it’s a multibillion-dollar problem,” Moreno said in the press conference. 

Replacing sewage and water main pipes is no cheap task. In 2021, the city required a $561 million budget to repair sewers. SWBNO secured $86 million in funding from the federal government to inspect and replace the water lines last year. 

The state legislature is required to approve proposed SWBNO reforms, delaying resolutions of water and sewage main breaks.

Louisiana’s State Rep. Stephanie Hilferty proposed House Bill 573 last month, which will expand the authority of the New Orleans City Council, allowing it to address SWBNO reform without state government interference. 

Beyond HB 573, SWBNO reform will not be addressed until the next state legislative session.