Water Testing Underway, Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect

The precautionary boil water advisory for a limited area of New Orleans East is still in effect. Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), is testing water quality samples, which may take up to 24 hours to achieve results. The affected areas are Little Woods, I-10 to Lake Pontchartrain and Read Boulevard to Paris Road and Oak Island, Michoud Boulevard to Lake Forest Boulevard and I-10 to the Maxent Canal. Boil water before consuming.

SWBNO will notify residents and businesses when the boil water advisory is canceled. Customers in other areas of the city are not affected and do not need to boil their water. SWBNO, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health, issues boil water advisories out of an abundance of caution for areas where water pressure drops below 20 pounds per square inch (psi). The concern is that a pressure drop inside a water pipe could allow bacteriological contaminants to enter.

During a boil water advisory

Don't consume tap water

• Use bottled or boiled water to drink, cook, brush teeth, and mix baby formula.
• Wash fruits and vegetables with bottled or boiled water. 
• Don’t use ice from ice trays or ice makers. Make new ice with bottled or boiled water.
• To be safe, give your pets bottled or boiled water.

Take care cleaning

• Wash countertops and tables with boiled water.
• Use a rinse temperature of 150° F or a sanitize cycle on your dishwasher.
• Wash dishes by hand as usual. Then soak in mixture of 1 gallon of water and 1 teaspoon of bleach for 1 minute. 
• Do laundry as usual.

Be careful bathing

• If you’re a healthy adult, you can bathe or shower with tap water. Be careful not to swallow any water.
• Give babies and young children a sponge bath or use boiled water to bathe.
• If you have open wounds or a weakened immune system, use boiled water to bathe.
• Use hand sanitizer after washing hands.

Boil water safely

1. Heat water until large bubbles come from the bottom to the top of the pot.
2. Let the water boil for at least 1 minute.
3. Turn off the stove and let the water cool.
4. Store the water in a clean container with a cover.
5. Add a pinch of salt and shake to improve the taste.

More resources

• Boil water guide
• Boil water guide for healthcare, restaurants, and daycare facilities
• Louisiana Department of Health’s guide for healthcare facilities