NEW ORLEANS — Update: S&WB officials announced Sunday, May 5 the advisory was lifted for all properties in the affected area.
As water finally receded after Friday's water main break, it left behind its impact on people, businesses and schools in Uptown.
Sewerage and Water Board crews have been working to fix the pipe since Friday morning.
A boil advisory is in effect for a large portion of Uptown, from S. Claiborne to the Mississippi river and from S. Carrollton to Napoleon Avenue, which may be lifted as soon as Saturday afternoon as water test results get back from the state.
“I threw on my rain boots and walked to school,” said Susan Morley, a teacher at Green Charter who lives near the break. “We were supposed to have our final day of testing today.”
Almost as soon as she got to school, the buses were bringing kids back home. Schools in Uptown closed for the day. Loyola offered water to students.
Restaurants and businesses also had to make adjustments.
“We need water to clean, water to cook,” said Edwin Ponce, General manager at Bearcat Café who closed for a while.
It’s not necessarily a surprise for people who live and work in the area. Chris Deemers at Kolache Kitchen is always ready.
“Building a place in Uptown New Orleans, you have to anticipate the pitfalls and hiccups,” Deemers said.
Places that rely on tap water, like Starbucks, closed for the day.
Audubon Zoo canceled its ‘cool zoo’ and ‘gator run’ Saturday because of the boil advisory. It also prepared for a Friday night event, ‘Zoo to do’ with hand sanitizer and water bottles.
Even if you're getting water pressure back, it’s advised to boil your water until the sewerage and water board gives the okay which could be as early as Saturday morning.