NEW ORLEANS – As temperatures climb to above freezing during the day, the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans has a message for residents: immediately turn off your faucets to conserve water.
The embattled agency released a statement saying the high demand of water can limit the New Orleans Fire Department’s ability to draw water necessary to fight fires and as a precaution, it has reduced water pressure to 62 pounds per sqaure inch, down from the normal range of 68-72 pounds per square inch.
According to the statement, dropping water pressure is a "typical response" to manage stress on the system during such events as freezes and large water main breaks.
There is no concern at this time that pressure will drop low enough to trigger a boilwater advisory. Such advisories are issued after water pressure has dropped below 15 pounds per square inch.
As temperatures drop below freezing tonight, S&WB asks residents to run only faucets farthest from their property’s main stop valve with a stream no more than 1/16 of an inch wide, about “pencil lead thin.”
"If residents must run their water to keep pipes from freezing, do so only after temperatures drop below the freezing point: 32 degrees Fahrenheit," S&WB states.
Residents are encouraged to call 52-WATER to report any water emergencies.
For more information, visit https://www.swbno.org/
