Battle over New Orleans water system in state legislature this week

The city of New Orleans seeks more control over its water and drainage with legislation coming up this week in Baton Rouge.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno says she will be in Baton Rouge to personally stump for House Bill 573. The mayor says the bill by Metairie Republican Stephanie Hilferty would give the New Orleans City Council more say in Sewerage and Water Board affairs.

"I'll be back in the legislature this week. It looks like our Sewerage and Water Board legislation is going to start moving this week," the mayor said. "It allows for the city to have more control over Sewerage and Water Board. We need transparency, we need accountability, we need to make sure that this agency is getting the job the done right."

But some board members worry that could create uncertainty, which would hurt the board's credit rating, at a time when the board is looking for funding to make needed repairs to aging water mains.

The House Municipal Affairs Committee is set to take it up Wednesday.