114-year-old water main breaks, flooding streets, closing schools in Uptown New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — Update: S&WB officials announced Sunday, May 5 the advisory was lifted for all properties in the affected area. 

A 114-year-old water main break flooded streets, closed schools and forced a precautionary boil water advisory for the Uptown area of New Orleans early Friday.

RELATED: Why you need to boil the water when pressure drops

The boil water advisory extends from South Carrollton to Napoleon Avenues and South Claiborne Avenue to the Mississippi River.

The New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board said the water main break was discovered around midnight near South Claiborne Avenue and Soniat Streets. The leak caused water pressure in the area to drop below 20 psi, triggering the boil water advisory.

Several schools have announced closures due to the boil water advisory and low water pressure.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who has been trying to broker a deal to get the City of New Orleans additional funding for infrastructure in general, in particular to shore up the troubled sewerage and water system, sent out a series of Tweets Friday morning.

"I spoke to the Ways and Means committee on April 23 about the very issue we are facing this morning with a water main break that is reportedly 114 years old," she Tweeted. "I can't make this stuff up. We need just a bit more of what we generate to take care of ourselves."

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Crews are currently working to isolate the leaks and make repairs, but several nearby blocks were flooded as water poured into the streets.

Residents in the area should not drink, make ice or brush their teeth until further notice. Residents with compromised immune systems should not wash hands, shower or bath. All other residents should use soap and tap water and hand sanitizer to wash their hands and be careful to not swallow any water when showering or bathing.

The City of New Orleans has issued the following precautions for this 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.

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.

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.

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.

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