East Bank residents: Notice water pressure changes? Call this number
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Sewerage and Water Board is asking its customers across the East Bank to be on the lookout for changes in their water pressure Friday morning.
The board is currently testing a new system designed to reduce, or even eliminate the need for boil advisories.
Crews shut off a water line at about 1 a.m. to see if the new water tower can serve as a reliable backup in case of a power outage.
This is part of the city's Water Hammer Project, a $50 million infrastructure investment being funded by FEMA.
A water hammer is a surge of water pressure that happens when there's a power outage at a water plant.
This is a known issue that the Sewerage and Water Board has been dealing with.
Two months ago a turbine went off-line for only 20 minutes, but caused a boil advisory for more than 24 hours across the entire East Bank.
Water hammers can also cause shock waves in the water system that can damage or break water mains.
The Water Hammer project is designed to fix both issues, according to the Sewerage and Water Board.
The new pair of 200-foot tall water tanks hold 4 million gallons of water, and will serve as a backup if power goes out.
The project is scheduled to be completed in just a few months.
Earlier this year, Mayor Mitch Landrieu described how it worked.
"In the event of a complete loss of electrical power these water towers will surge water down to the system to prevent loss of pressure in the
system," said Landrieu. "When we have boil water advisory we know the negative impact. this is designed to fix that problem."
If residents see any issues with water pressure, the board asks that you call 52-water or (529-2837) to report them. If there are any issues, they can reopen the water line immediately.
Another test closure is scheduled to happen Saturday morning from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m., and could impact customers in the C-B-D. Residents who notice water pressure changes during the weekend test are also encouraged to call and report them.
