[edited May 11, 2023 to add the video and link to the press release]
WHO: WE ACT for Environmental Justice, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), BlueConduit, Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, Total Community Action, Civic Studio
WHAT: Announcement of an interactive inventory that allows residents to learn the composition of home water pipes, the partnership between these organizations, and future educational community events
WHEN: Monday, April 24, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CST
New Orleans, like most cities in the nation, lacks a comprehensive inventory of where lead water pipes are located. Lead water pipes were used in the past to provide water service to homes in New Orleans, and some older homes may still have these connections. New Orleans is joining Buffalo, New York to identify the location and replace lead water pipes. SWBNO and BlueConduit are working together to develop an interactive map. The Biden Administration secured a landmark $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure package allocating $15 billion to remove lead pipes from communities nationwide, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to distribute about $50 billion in infrastructure funding for clean water—the largest single U.S. investment in drinking water and wastewater systems.
Community organizations are working with national environmental organizations to support residents of New Orleans in understanding the drinking water infrastructure and potential health effects of drinking water contaminants. These community organizations will work together to provide residents with learning materials, in addition to gathering feedback to understand and help better protect residents.
Event Recording
Read the full press release on the SWBNO website.
