SWBNO needs stronger plan to protect New Orleans from lead - Verite News

Nearly a decade after investigators first warned that New Orleans was exposing residents to hidden drinking water hazards, a new report shows the Sewerage & Water Board neglected to implement several recommendations to protect public health. An updated report from the city’s inspector general and drinking water advocates indicates that the S&WB hasn’t created a comprehensive, proactive strategy to protect its customers in the nine years since a 2017 report by former Inspector General Edouard Quatrevaux found thousands of residents may have been unknowingly exposed to elevated levels of lead.

Utility Leadership and Public Health Responsibilities

Although the utility is charged with providing safe drinking water, Inspector General Ed Michel’s Oct. 21 letter stated that S&WB leadership “do not consider themselves public health experts” and instead look to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Department of Health for lead awareness. Rebecca Johnsey, the utility’s deputy superintendent of water programs, stated that the S&WB’s role is specifically focused on the water and water infrastructure, noting that looking at how water impacts a person’s health is not the agency’s job and that they simply follow state and federal regulations.

The Inspector General’s Office pursued an update to its 2017 investigation following reporting from Verite News earlier this year. Inspector General Ed Michel stated in a document that Full implementation of the OIG’s recommendations remains essential for meeting federal mandates and protecting public health.

Lead Infrastructure and Contamination Risks

The S&WB built much of the water system using lead pipes over a century ago because the material was flexible enough to withstand shifting grounds, and the city is projected to have up to 85,000 lead service lines still in use. As these pipes corrode, the toxic metal can leach into drinking water. Research has found that disturbing pipes during construction, repair or partial replacement causes temporary spikes in lead levels and can knock loose particles that settle in faucets.

Erik Olsen, the Natural Resource Defense Council’s senior strategic director of health and a senior attorney, explained, You can test your water at your tap today and find virtually no lead, and tomorrow find just sky-high levels of lead because something has shaken loose those little particles that were sticking to the inside of that pipe. Even trace amounts can damage brain and nervous system development in infants, and chronic exposure has been linked to heart disease and death.

Current Compliance and Outreach Measures

The S&WB maintains compliance with all state and federal lead requirements. In response to stricter federal rules issued in 2021 and its own initiatives since 2017, the utility has enhanced its public outreach by establishing a lead service line inventory, mailing annual status notices to customers, and providing free water testing and free pitcher water filters.