New Orleans, Louisiana Water Outage Today
Live New Orleans water outage reports, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in New Orleans, Louisiana in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from New Orleans came in on September 2, 2026.
Who supplies water in New Orleans?
Drinking water in New Orleans, Louisiana is supplied by Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Louisiana are regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health.
To report no water or a main break, call Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans at 504-529-2837.
New Orleans water system at a glance
The system behind most taps in New Orleans is New Orleans Carrollton Water Works, which EPA records list as serving roughly 334,903 people. Customers know it as Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | New Orleans Carrollton Water Works (LA1071009) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 334,903 through 137,049 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 2 surface intakes, 10 treatment points, 13 storage tanks and reservoirs, 9 pump facilities |
| State regulator | Louisiana Department of Health |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 1 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 9 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Where New Orleans's tap water comes from
New Orleans drinks surface water. New Orleans Carrollton Water Works draws it from Dakin / Industrial Surface Water and Oak St Surface Water and treats it before it goes into the distribution system. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Surface Water Treatment Plant. After treatment the water is held in 13 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 9 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. Surface water needs a treatment plant running around the clock, so a plant shutdown, a raw-water pump failure or a long power cut at the plant can lower pressure across the whole service area, not just on one street. Boil water notices are more likely to be citywide after that kind of failure than after a single main break.
Why the water goes out in New Orleans
These are the causes that match the record for New Orleans, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 178 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Orleans Parish from 2015 through 2026, and 14 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Floodwater can undercut pipe crossings, swamp pump stations and overload treatment plants, and a notice to boil water often follows when it enters the system.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 60.5% of occupied homes in New Orleans were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Tropical storms and hurricanes. Storm surge, flooding and multi-day power cuts are the main threat to treatment plants and pump stations in Louisiana. Utilities in the region routinely issue precautionary boil notices after a storm, even where nothing is found in the water.
- Damage from other crews. Water mains share the ground with gas, power and telecom lines, and a strike by any contractor can dry up a block in seconds.
- Scheduled work, or a fault inside your own home. Utilities warn customers before a planned shutoff. If nothing was announced and the neighbors are fine, the cause is probably your shutoff valve, meter or pressure regulator.
How weather strains the New Orleans water system
Weather stress on the water system in New Orleans is moderate: freezes and heat waves are limited, so breaks tend to follow age, ground movement and construction more than weather.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 2.2 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 0 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 0 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 3.4 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.2 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 14.3 |
| Average annual precipitation | 63.5 in |
| Wettest year | 2021 (90.9 in) |
| Driest year | 2023 (43.8 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 17, 2018 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 26, 2023 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2021 with 90.9 inches; the driest was 2023 with 43.8. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Is New Orleans water safe? Boil notices and EPA record
EPA lists 1 health-based violation for New Orleans Carrollton Water Works since 2015. It also lists 4 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- January 2025: Treated water above the monthly turbidity limit It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Surface water treatment and turbidity | 1 | 1 |
| Coliform bacteria testing | 0 | 2 |
| Disinfection byproducts | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
When New Orleans loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Louisiana Department of Health supervises the process.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in New Orleans
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for New Orleans Carrollton Water Works is 6 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 9 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
60.5% of occupied homes in New Orleans were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans about its lead service line inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in New Orleans
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in New Orleans usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more. With 334,903 people on the system, a break on a main that feeds a whole district can leave thousands of homes dry at once, and crews may close valves several blocks away to isolate it.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Roughly 4 to 8 working hours |
| Large or deep main | A day or two, sometimes three |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Ask Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans for a restoration estimate when you report the outage; for large breaks it is normally posted and updated as the repair progresses.
How much water to keep on hand in New Orleans
With about 2.4 people in the typical New Orleans home, FEMA's one-gallon-per-person-per-day rule means 7 gallons covers three days and 33 gallons covers two weeks.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- Fill a tub or large containers early for toilets, cleaning and handwashing, and store drinking water separately in clean bottles.
New Orleans versus neighboring water utilities
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | New Orleans Carrollton Water Works | 334,903 | Surface | 1 | 9 |
| Gulfport, MS | City of Gulfport | 75,056 | Ground | 0 | 3 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Water Company | 596,844 | Ground | 0 | 2 |
| Lafayette, LA | Lafayette Utilities Water System | 169,389 | Ground | 0 | 2 |
| Mobile, AL | Mobile Area Water & Sewer System | 279,000 | Surface | 1 | 6.5 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Staying informed about water service in New Orleans
Sign up for alerts from Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans and check its website or social accounts when the water goes off. If a boil advisory is issued, the water outage guide covers how to treat water and when it is safe again.
New Orleans frequently asked water questions
Who do I call about no water in New Orleans?
Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans at 504-529-2837, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does New Orleans get its water?
Surface water supplies New Orleans, according to EPA records for New Orleans Carrollton Water Works. It draws from Dakin / Industrial Surface Water and Oak St Surface Water.
Can you drink the tap water in New Orleans?
EPA lists 1 health-based violation for New Orleans Carrollton Water Works since 2015, most recently treated water above the monthly turbidity limit in January 2025, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 6 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
When do water main breaks happen in New Orleans?
Freezing weather is uncommon in New Orleans (about 2 days a year), so breaks come mostly from aging pipe, shifting ground after dry spells, high summer demand and digging crews, and they can happen in any month.
Why is my water pressure low in New Orleans?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in New Orleans?
Plan on one to two days after pressure is back. Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans samples the water, waits for clean lab results and then lifts the notice, with the Louisiana Department of Health overseeing the steps.
How many gallons of emergency water does a New Orleans family need?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average New Orleans household has about 2.4 people, which works out to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 33 for two weeks.
Does New Orleans have lead pipes?
It depends on the age of your home. About 60.5% of occupied homes in New Orleans were built before 1970, and lead service lines remained legal until 1986. Contact Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans about your address and flush the cold tap after any outage.
How do I check for water outages near me in New Orleans?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of New Orleans have sent in over the last day, and Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
Recent water reports in New Orleans
- Water reports in New Orleans, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- September 2, 2026
- Water reports across Louisiana, last 24h
- 0
- City population
- 383,997
Other outage types in New Orleans
Water Service Outages in cities near New Orleans
- Gulfport, MS 65 mi · City of Gulfport Public Works
- Baton Rouge, LA 75 mi · Baton Rouge Water Company
- Biloxi, MS 77 mi · City of Biloxi Public Works
- Hattiesburg, MS 106 mi · City of Hattiesburg Water & Sewer
- Lafayette, LA 118 mi · Lafayette Utilities System (LUS)
- Mobile, AL 132 mi · Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS)
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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