NEW ORLEANS — A key power source for New Orleans drainage pumps is now back online ahead of this weekend’s expected rains.
According to the Sewerage and Water Board, the 58-year-old, often broken Turbine 5 is repaired, tested and available to run city drainage pumps.
It was out of service on December 2, when there was widespread street flooding across the city.
“Relatively speaking we are in a much better place today than we were yesterday and we’re more confident than obviously going into the rain event this weekend,” SWBNO Executive Director Ghassan Korban said.
Turbine 4 also clicked off during the storm and is still broken.
Also, only three of the five emergency backup generators are currently working.
That leaves the water board with just enough power to operate drainage pumps during peak demand.
Earlier this month when the system lost power, pumping stations in parts of Lakeview, Mid-City and Gentilly worked at reduced capacity and water backed up on the streets.
“Our old equipment can break down at any minute and we could lose power just like we experienced not too long ago with Turbine 4,” Korban said.
One thing that won’t be fixed in time for this weekend’s rain is the broken water main in the 1300 block of Esplanade Avenue in Treme.
“It does flood around here all the time, so I don’t think this will be very helpful,” Treme neighbor Deaunt Robinson said.
Crews tried to fix the broken pipe and fill a large pothole several times.
Robinson says the most recent attempt left a second pothole, now leaking water in the middle of the block.
It’s become a minefield for motorists.
“You’re trying to find the easiest route, but there is no easy route because no matter how you try and go around the hole, you’re still going to hit the hole,” Robinson said. It doesn't matter.”
The Sewerage and Water Board now hopes to have a temporary asphalt patch on that stretch of Esplanade as soon as possible.
The utility says the leak was caused by a broken 20-inch water valve.
The part has been shipped and a contractor is expected to close the road and make the repairs after Christmas.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.