Foul Odor and Sewage Leaks Plague New Orleans East Canal

Residents report rotten egg smell and health concerns linked to Dwyer Canal contamination

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:50am

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An extreme close-up X-ray photograph of a sewage pipe, with its internal structures visible as glowing, ghostly lines against a dark background, conceptually illustrating the infrastructure issues causing the foul odor in the Dwyer Canal.An X-ray view of the Dwyer Canal's sewage infrastructure exposes the source of the persistent foul odor plaguing New Orleans East residents.New Orleans Today

Residents in New Orleans East have been dealing with a persistent rotten egg smell and sewage leaks in the Dwyer Canal for months. Community members have reported feeling frustrated and helpless as they struggle with the ongoing issue, which has led to health concerns and calls for accountability from local officials.

Why it matters

The sewage leaks and foul odor in the Dwyer Canal highlight longstanding infrastructure problems and environmental justice issues in New Orleans East, a predominantly Black and low-income community. Residents are concerned about the potential health impacts and want the city to take immediate action to address the problem.

The details

After months of complaints from residents, the Sewerage and Water Board has confirmed that the rotten egg smell is due to fecal leaks into the Dwyer Canal. Residents like Chad Blackstone say they have been woken up in the middle of the night by the potent odor, and some report that their children have become sick. Community organizer Michael conducted his own study and found multiple water leaks, sewage discharge, broken manholes, and the release of hydrogen sulfide along the canal. Councilman Matthew Willard confronted city leaders about the lack of accountability, noting that it took months for them to even post signage about the issue.

  • Residents have been reporting the rotten egg smell and sewage leaks since at least January 2026.
  • The Sewerage and Water Board acknowledged the issue and confirmed the source of the fecal leaks in a public meeting on April 15, 2026.

The players

Chad Blackstone

A resident of New Orleans East who has been complaining about the rotten egg smell and sewage leaks in the Dwyer Canal for months.

Michael

A community organizer who conducted his own study of the Dwyer Canal and found multiple issues, including water leaks, sewage discharge, broken manholes, and the release of hydrogen sulfide.

Matthew Willard

A New Orleans City Councilman who confronted local leaders about the lack of accountability and the delayed response to the Dwyer Canal issues.

Sewerage and Water Board

The local agency responsible for managing the city's water and sewage infrastructure, which has acknowledged the fecal leaks in the Dwyer Canal.

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What they’re saying

“We shouldn't have to suffer. Just do your job. That's all we ask.”

— Chad Blackstone, Resident

“You finally got around to posting signage. I believe we had our first meeting to talk about the issues at the Dwyer Canal in January, and we just put signage up. That's a problem.”

— Matthew Willard, City Councilman

What’s next

Residents in New Orleans East are planning to meet in two weeks to discuss further steps to address the sewage leaks and foul odor in the Dwyer Canal. The mayor's office has said they are closely monitoring the situation.

The takeaway

The ongoing issues with the Dwyer Canal highlight the persistent infrastructure and environmental justice challenges facing low-income communities in New Orleans. Residents are demanding immediate action and accountability from city leaders to address the health and quality-of-life concerns caused by the sewage leaks and foul odor.