NEW ORLEANS — Perhaps in an effort to demonstrate the great need for infrastructure upgrades in the city of New Orleans, the Sewerage and Water Board has turned the public's attention to an interactive map they have that shows approximately how old the pipes in the city of New Orleans are.
The Sewerage and Water Board said that more than half of 1,530 miles of water mains are 80 years or older and a third of them are more than 100 years of age.
According to the interactive map, all of the red lines indicate pipes installed between 1900 and 1919, making them at least 100 years old. Lines in an orange-type color indicates pipes that are at least 80 years of age.
The S&WB said that industry standards are that the pipes should be replaced every 50 years or so and that expected life of the pipes, depending on the material used, is at most 75 to 100 years.
Two weeks ago a 114-year-old water main pipe broke and flooded several blocks Uptown, causing some businesses and schools to close and cutting off water pressure in some areas as well.
The interactive map allows users to put in their own address to gauge the age of pipes in their area. The Sewerage and Water Board says that not every update or replacement is indicated.
According to the S&WB, director Ghassan Korban will launch a Master Plan process this year to improve the system.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell recently worked out a deal with the state to get additional funding for the city's infrastructure. That deal still faces a few procedural issues, but could provide tens of millions of dollars.