In anticipation of this weekend’s expected rainfall, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) is notifying all customers that Turbines 4 and 5 remain temporarily out of order, reducing SWBNO’s 25Hz power generation capacity to 28MW, which is 63% of our peak generation demand of 44MW. This diminished power will not affect the number of pumps available, rather, it will slow the utility’s ability to pump runoff from New Orleans’ streets.

Each weather event is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, SWBNO’s Operations Team will respond to this weekend’s storm to the best of their ability. At this time, the team is on standby to supplement the power deficit by strategically sending back-up power to drainage pump stations with the goal of lowering canal levels, increasing stormwater storage, and limiting the amount of standing water on streets. However, with Turbines 4 and 5 down, high intensity rain may cause localized street flooding in some areas.

"Given our fragile power status, we cannot be too careful going into this weekend,” said SWBNO Executive Director Ghassan Korban. “We have the power and personnel resources to handle the currently forecasted rainfall, which is one to two inches of rain over the course of several hours. However, we lack the redundancy to address greater rainfall, mechanical failures, or an Entergy loss of power. If any one of these failures happen, there is a possibility that draining the streets of New Orleans will take longer than customers are accustomed to.”

We have communicated with our partners at the City of New Orleans and Nola Ready, Entergy, and the National Weather Service to prepare for the weather event and will continue to do so.

We anticipate having sufficient power again late next week with an anticipated return date of Turbine 5 by December 15, 2023. Until then, residents are urged to remain vigilant and weather aware while our capacity to drain stormwater is diminished. SWBNO will work closely with NOLA Ready to inform residents of any potential impacts related to this weekend’s weather.

Current Equipment Status as of December 8, 2023

Pumping Status:

Major Drainage Pumps: 94 of 99 Major Drainage Pumps Available For Use

• DPS 3 on Florida Ave near Hwy 90: D Pump out of service due to replacement of bearing housing unit.
  •  4 additional drainage pumps available at this station + 4 constant duty pumps
• DPS 10 at Haynes Blvd. and Shubrick Ave. at Citrus Canal: No. 1 Pump out of service
  • 3 additional drainage pumps available at this station
• DPS 13 near Tall Timbers Algiers: No. 4 Pump on standby for Emergency Use Only.
  • 5 additional drainage pumps available at this station + one constant duty pump
• DPS 17 near Florida Ave. and Peoples: Pumps A & D out of service due to issues with the electric motor. 
  • Please note, DPS 17 is serviced by DPS No. 19 located on Florida Ave and the west side of the Industrial Canal.

Drainage Pumping Stations that utilize solely 25Hz power are 2, 3 and 12. Stations that use both 25 Hz and 60 Hz power are 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Underpass Stations:
All underpass pumps in service. 

Click here for an overview and an interactive map of our drainage system.
 

Power Status:
Turbine 6 is available for use.

• Turbine 5 out of service due to auxiliary oil pump issues; estimated return to service by December 15, 2023.
• Turbine 4 out of service due to a mechanical issue.

EMDs #3 #4 and #5 are in service. 

• EMD #1 is offline due to a radiator leak and #2 due to electrical issues  

Frequency Changer #1 at Carrollton Frequency Changer Facility is available for use.

• Frequency Changer #2 at Carrollton Frequency Changer Facility is out of service.

Frequency Changers #3 and #4 at Station D are available for use.

• Plant Frequency Changer at Carrollton Water Plant is out of service, and will be decommissioned at the end of 2023. This Frequency Changer is not used for draingage pumping. 

Frequency Changer #2 at Algiers Water Treatment Facility is available for use.

SWBNO advises all residents to stay weather aware by following @NOLAReady for updates or text NOLAREADY to 77295 for text updates. For the latest information on SWBNO’s pumping and power status, visit https://www.swbno.org/Article/Details/pumping-and-power-equipment-status.