New Orleans secures funding for water treatment, drainage infrastructure

By Nolan Mckendry

Source: The Center Square via New Orleans CityBusiness

September 20, 2024

New Orleans’ drainage and power infrastructure has just secured funding for a much needed upgrade that will address the city’s issues with unsafe water and flash flooding.

“Frequent boil water advisories and major flash flooding events such as those triggered by Hurricane Francine should be alleviated when the West Power Complex comes online,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a news release. “This power complex is a critical infrastructure necessity for not only the City of New Orleans, but the entire Greater New Orleans region.”

The funding will total $34 million, with $17 million allocated by New Orleans city council and matched by the state. Governor Landry’s office said that the new funding will also allow for federal funding from the Department of Energy.

The Sewerage & Water Board has said the modern new power complex will alleviate many of the existing power and drainage pumping problems the city has faced because of its aging power turbines and infrastructure.

According to New Orleans city council, the allocation from the City Council will be $14 million from General Obligation bonds the City recently sold. The remaining $3 million will come from Fair Share dollars appropriated to the Sewerage and Water Board.

A recent report from the Bureau of Governmental Research evaluated the impact of the 2019 “Fair Share” agreement, which directs new tourism-related revenue into New Orleans’ infrastructure projects.
According to the report, the deal has generated $30.8 million in recurring revenue in 2023, with the majority $21.9 million allocated to the Sewerage & Water Board and $5.7 million to the Department of Public Works.

The city council has spent much of the Fair Share funding on infrastructure investment such as electrical power infrastructure, and improving water meters and water treatment systems, according to the report.

The funding for the power complex was left unallocated in the last legislative session. The SWB had requested $29 million in state funding to advance construction of the power complex and other equipment needed to power the city’s drainage pumps before the 2025 hurricane season.

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