New Orleans Seeks Federal Funds to Upgrade Aging Water Infrastructure

City Council and Sewerage and Water Board appear at odds over urgency to address pipe failures

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As crews work to repair a major water main break on Claiborne Avenue, leaders of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board warn that more pipe failures are likely due to the city's aging water infrastructure, much of which is over 100 years old. The New Orleans City Council President wants the Sewerage and Water Board to tap into available federal grants to replace lead pipes and proactively address potential breaks, but says there is a "disconnect" with the board's sense of urgency to do so.

Why it matters

New Orleans' water infrastructure has long been plagued by issues, leading to frequent pipe failures and water service disruptions. Accessing federal funding could help the city make critical upgrades and repairs to its aging system, but there appears to be a disagreement between city leaders on the need to expedite these efforts.

The details

Sewerage and Water Board Director Randy Hayman says the utility needs to find new, more cost-effective ways to routinely repair and replace its aging pipes, noting that other cities are able to do this on a maintenance plan but New Orleans lacks the necessary funding. City Council President J.P. Morrell says the Sewerage and Water Board has access to federal grants for lead pipe replacement that could also address potential breaks, but he doesn't see a sense of urgency from the board to take advantage of these resources.

  • This week, a major water main burst opened a gaping hole in Claiborne Avenue.
  • The Sewerage and Water Board says it expects to see more pipe failures due to the city's 100-year-old water infrastructure.

The players

Randy Hayman

Director of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board.

J.P. Morrell

President of the New Orleans City Council.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The bottom line is: We have an old system. And until we have a repair program that routinely replaces and repairs the system, we are going to have situations like this.”

— Randy Hayman, Sewerage and Water Board Director (WWL TV)

“There's a disconnect with urgency. We have federal dollars that are coming to us through the EPA, through other agencies, to do lead-line replacement, that there's no urgency to move on that project, which directly addresses situations, like what happened at (South) Claiborne (Avenue).”

— J.P. Morrell, New Orleans City Council President (WWL)

What’s next

The New Orleans City Council will likely continue pressing the Sewerage and Water Board to expedite the use of available federal funds to address the city's aging water infrastructure and prevent future pipe failures.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the longstanding challenges New Orleans has faced in maintaining its water system, which is plagued by aging pipes and a lack of funding for proactive repairs. Accessing federal grants could help the city make critical upgrades, but there appears to be a disconnect between city leaders on the need to prioritize these efforts.