Projectnola.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2010

PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT

NEW ORLEANS, LA– Mayor Landrieu, Public Health officials, and Sewerage & Water Board officials announced that the precautionary Boil Water Advisory issued for the East Bank of Orleans Parish yesterday will remain in effect, while test results are confirmed.   In an abundance of caution, a second round of samples were collected yesterday evening and those results are expected back this evening.   Following the second round of test results, a determination and announcement regarding the precautionary boil water advisory will be made tonight. 

State health regulations required the precautionary Boil Water Advisory and testing because water pressure dropped below 15 psi (pounds per square inch) which increases the risk of contaminants entering the water system.

At approximately 7:00 am on Saturday, the Sewerage and Water Board's chemists and technicians began collecting 28 water samples from sites throughout the East Bank.  Tests were conducted at the Board's Water Purification Laboratory. A 24-hour incubation period was required to determine if any harmful bacteria are present in the samples. 

At approximately 10:30 pm on Friday, the Sewerage & Water Board lost 25 cycle power at its main water plant, causing low water pressure (as low as 10 pounds per square inch) throughout the East Bank of the City. According to the Board, water pressure has normalized.   Mayor Landrieu has ordered an after action report of the incident.

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