The recent flood event in the city has prompted City Council to call in Sewerage and Water Board for answers regarding the failed pumps.
City Councilman Joe Giarusso told WWL's Tommy Tucker that has a few questions for S&WB reps.
Councilman Giarusso said that the pumps can only work if they have power, and addressing the power issue is chief among any proposed resolutions.
“The solution to all of this is building the new sub station which is set to go online in 2025.”
He was also able to break down what happened in the most recent event to cause such widespread flooding.
“At the end of October, turbine five went off line and left only turbine four available.”
The councilman also said that even the backups were of no use.
“Sewerage and Water Board also runs five eMVs (Electro-Motor Engines). If running collectively, they can essentially make one turbine. Well, two of the five EMVs were also down as the storm approached.”
Giarusso says the flooding issue can be kept at bay with teamwork.
“The bottom line is you have to have a future plan, which we have, but the communication and contingency planning has to be there too.”
An earlier version of this story indicated Councilmember Giarrusso wanted to ask Sewerage and Water Board about how it spent money allocated for catch basin cleaning. Catch basins are handled by the New Orleans Department of Public Works, not the Sewerage and Water Board.
