Mayor Mitch Landrieu, joined by Sewerage and Water Board (SWB) Executive Director Cedric S. Grant, FEMA, city and state officials and community members unveiled the Water Hammer construction project at Carrollton Water Plant in June 2017.
“We’re excited to highlight this critical SWB project that will improve our water system and make our city more resilient,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “These water towers will not only help mitigate boil water advisories, but also further secure the safety of our drinking water.”
The $50M project features two new 200-foot tall water tanks that together can hold 4M gallons of water. The towers can provide needed water pressure and continuous water service to the city in the event of complete power loss; thereby reducing the occurrence of “water hammer.”
Water hammer is a surge of water pressure caused by power loss at a water plant, which can send shockwaves through the water system and cause water main breaks. SWB installed the new water tanks and equalization valves to make the water system more resilient from the impact of a water hammer. The valves will allow SWB to slowly re-pressurize the system – avoiding the shockwave effect.
“This is one of the most significant water resilience projects undertaken in a generation,” said SWB Executive Director Cedric Grant. “This project is the result of a six -year negotiation with FEMA and will provide 40 minutes of water pressure during a power outage. When complete, it will represent a major upgrade to the water system and its reliability for the residents of New Orleans.”
The Water Hammer Project is one of the many major upgrades that will make New Orleans’ water system more resilient.