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Council urges Sewage and Water Board to provide monthly public updates, seeks standing oversight item
Summary
Council Member Hughes led adoption of a resolution asking the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board to provide monthly operational and compliance briefings to the council’s Public Works committee, while council leaders stressed the body currently lacks direct operational control and urged state action to grant more authority.
Council Member Hughes introduced and the council adopted a resolution requesting that the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board provide monthly operational and compliance updates to the Public Works, Sanitation and Environment Committee and add a standing agenda item to ensure regular public reporting.
The measure, R26114, aims to increase transparency about system performance, environmental compliance and infrastructure improvements even though council members acknowledged the city council currently lacks direct operational control of the board. Council President Morell said, “We do not actually have the authority to make them do anything,” noting the board is created under state law and that the council is pursuing state legislation to increase local oversight.
Supporters cited recent operational failures while urging stronger accountability. Council Member Harris noted that a water‑main break at Magnolia and Jackson on March 4 remained unrepaired, calling the lack of timely response “unacceptable” for Central City residents. Patricia Walton’s public comment earlier in the meeting recounted chronic raw‑sewer backups at her home dating back to 2014 and reinforced calls for regular reporting and more timely repairs.
Council members described parallel state efforts. Morell and others urged backing Representative Stephanie Hilferty’s legislation that would give the council more authority over the Sewage and Water Board; Council Member Green encouraged residents to raise concerns with both the board and their state representatives. The resolution itself asks the board to appear regularly before the committee and for staff to establish a standing agenda item for monthly public updates.
The resolution was moved and seconded on the floor and adopted by the council. The matter directs the Public Works committee to request monthly operational and compliance briefings from the Sewage and Water Board, but it does not—by itself—change the board’s legal authority, which remains a matter for the state legislature.
