The New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board announced its 5-year drainage system inspection plan. It will provide a complete survey on the condition of the city’s drainage system. The results will guide a yearly drainage maintenance plan.
S&WB is responsible for approximately 210 miles of closed canals and 65 miles of open canals. “This is a massive undertaking and a critical step in working to learn everything we don’t know about our infrastructure,” said Ghassan Korban, Executive Director, S&WB. “There are no records of an inspection of this magnitude ever happening before. We know that historically, our critical infrastructure was not well maintained. As we work to implement these inspections, we remain committed to remedying any issues we encounter in our canals as funding allows. We hope this shows the public that under new leadership, we are doing things differently.”
S&WB officials say residents can expect to see minimal traffic delays where the inspection is taking place.
Details of the plan listed below:
Years One and Two (currently underway): Uptown, Broadmoor, Central City, Carrollton, Riverbend
Basin draining to Drainage Pump Stations No. 1 (S. Broad St.) and No. 6 (17th Street-Orpheum Ave.)
Includes 50 miles of closed canals and 8 miles of open canals (including the 17th Street Outfall Canal)
Years Two and Three: CBD, French Quarter, Treme, 7th Ward, Gentilly, Desire
Basin draining to Drainage Pump Stations No. 2 (N. Broad St.), No.3 (London Ave. at N. Broad), No.4 (London Ave.at Warrington) and No. 19 (W. Industrial Canal)
Includes 56 miles of closed canals and 9 miles of open canals (including the London and Industrial Outfall Canals)
Year Four: City Park, Mid-City, Lakeview
Basin draining to Drainage Pump Stations No. 7 (Orleans Ave.) and No. 12 (Ponchartrain Blvd.)
Includes 23 miles of closed conduit and 2 miles of open canals
Years Four and Five: New Orleans East
Basin draining to Drainage Pump Stations No. 10 (Citrus on Hayne Blvd.), No. 14 (Jahncke on Hayne Blvd.), No.16 (Wales St.) and No. 18 (Maxent on Alcee Fortier Blvd.)
Includes 40 miles of closed canals and 42 miles of open canals
Year Five (Combined drainage basins): Lower 9th Ward and West Bank
Phase 1
Basin draining to Drainage Pump Station No. 5 (Florida Ave.)
Includes 7 miles of closed canals, zero miles of open canals
Phase 2
Basin draining to Drainage Pump Station No. 13 (West Bank)
Includes 34 miles of closed canals and 4 miles of open canals