NEW ORLEANS – The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (S&WB) has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for the Eastbank of New Orleans.
Residents in the affected area are advised not to drink, make ice, brush teeth, or prepare or rinse food with tap water unless it has been properly disinfected until further notice.
The Associated Press reports the Department of Health and Hospitals is testing water samples and will have the results in 24 hours.
They also report S&WB Executive Director Cedric Grant said late Wednesday night that two pumps at the Carrollton water purification plant lost power and pressure dropped below 15 pounds per square inch at 14 of the system's 18 pumping stations. That is the level that triggers a boil-water advisory until testing can determine whether any harmful bacteria have made their way into the water supply due to low pressure in the pipes.
S&WB and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) will be testing water samples across the Eastbank of New Orleans.
Customers in other areas of the city are not affected and do not need to boil their water.
The boil water advisory will remain in effect until further notice for customers in the affected area.
S&WB will notify resident when the advisory is lifted.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOILING WATER
• Boil water for one full minute in a clean container.
• The one-minute boil time begins after the water has been brought to a rolling boil.
• If there is a flat taste, it can be eliminated by shaking the water in a bottle or pouring it from one container to another.
Or call: 52WATER (529-2837)
