Sewerage & Water Board gets turbine back online

Sewerage & Water Board water tower

The New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board today said it has repaired a turbine that had to be taken offline Saturday.

Turbine 4 needed repair, and to make sure the city's drainage pumps had adequate power if needed, Turbine 5 was brought online. It was during this process that Turbine 5 exploded and caught fire, shaking houses near the Sewerage & Water Board's main plant in the Leonidas neighborhood near the Orleans/Jefferson line.

Turbine 5 is still out of service while the Sewerage & Water Board determined the extent of the damage.

We are prepared for the incoming weather. Turbine 4 is ready for service as it was not damaged in Saturday’s explosion. Turbine 5 was damaged by the explosion and we are working to determine a timeline for repairs.

— SWB New Orleans (@SWBNewOrleans) December 16, 2019  

The blast injured three workers. Two were taken to a hospital. All were said to have minor injuries.

Turbine 4 is being returned to service as the region anticipates possible sever weather tonight. City officials say they don't expect flooding rain with this system, and are more concerned about wind damage.