New Orleans’ drainage, pump, and sewage systems are struggling, and according to one member of New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s team, a big part of that struggle is due to climate change.
“We’re seeing changing climate in this city, and we are seeing a tremendous amount of rainfall in a short amount of time,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Ramsey Green. “That is what is leading to flood events that we as a society have not seen before.”
City Councilmembers Wednesday grilled Green and Sewage and Water Board Director Ghassan Korban about the city’s frequent floods, particularly in parts of New Orleans East and Lakeview.
Green agreed with calls for more investment in upgrading drainage systems but defended the city’s current efforts. He noted much of the country is now fighting this same battle.
“Miami Beach is facing this, they are seeing seawater come up through their catchbasins. The lower part of Charleston is seeing threats on buildings that they have not seen before,” said Green. “We are seeing, in this country at this moment in time, things that we did not predict that we would see when we were younger seeing rainstorms.”
Green noted that one outdated and conservative estimate for building a 21st-century, climate-capable modern drainage system puts the cost around six billion dollars.
Councilman Joe Giarrusso told Green he’s got a lot of angry constituents who won’t be satisfied to hear that the problem is just climate change. Giarrusso said they want action, not an explanation.
“I’m trying to figure out when I go to Lakeview Civic on Saturday what I’m supposed to tell people, and I’m just telling you just telling them there’s climate change and be patient is not going to cut it,” said Giarrusso.
Green contended that’s not what the administration’s position is. He argued the city is doing everything it can with the resources that are available.
“We’re doing our darndest to use the money that we have to do a better job of building infrastructure that is lasting,” said Green. “To simply say, it’s climate change, that’s the problem, that is a cop-out, that’s like saying construction is delayed because it is raining today.”
Despite that sentiment, Korban noted under the current fee structure and bond policy Sewage and Water Board can not access any more capital to make improvements. Korban said right now S&WB only has the funding to maintain the current system, not to make replacements or upgrades.