New Orleans Homes Plagued by Lead-Contaminated Water

Experts warn of continued exposure as city delays pipe replacement until 2027

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:51am

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A ghostly, glowing X-ray image of the internal structure of a water pipe, conceptually representing the hidden danger of lead contamination in the city's drinking water supply.An X-ray view of a water pipe reveals the unseen threat of lead contamination lurking within New Orleans' aging infrastructure.New Orleans Today

Recent data from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans found lead present in roughly 70% of the more than 1,100 households that participated in the city's first free residential water testing program. With the city's lead pipe replacement delayed until at least late 2027, residents face continued exposure to the potent neurotoxin.

Why it matters

Lead exposure, even at very low doses, can accumulate in the body and remain for decades. The distinction between what is federally permissible and what is safe is critical, as the EPA's current action level is far higher than what public health experts recommend.

The details

The SWBNO's residential tap testing data is the city's most complete picture of lead in the water supply, with the highest household lead level recorded more than 100 times the federal action level. Construction activity can also spike lead levels by sending lead particulates into a home's plumbing, but the SWBNO has failed to warn residents before this type of work.

  • The SWBNO's residential water testing program ran from September 2022 to May 2025.
  • The EPA's lead action level is expected to drop from 15 parts per billion to 10 ppb in 2027.
  • The SWBNO hopes to sign a contractor to replace the city's lead pipes by the end of 2024, but the process has stalled due to a bid protest.

The players

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO)

The public utility responsible for providing water, sewer, and drainage services to the city of New Orleans.

Adrienne Katner

Associate professor of environmental and occupational health at Louisiana State University Health School of Public Health.

Samantha Cooke

Former communications coordinator for the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, a nonprofit that corroborated the SWBNO's findings on lead in residential water.

Caroline Lavie

A Tulane senior who received a letter from the SWBNO notifying her that the water service line at her off-campus house contains lead.

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What they’re saying

“Lead is one contaminant of concern in drinking water that we have to be vigilant about. Even at very low doses, lead can accumulate in the body, specifically in our bones, and it can remain there for 40-plus years.”

— Adrienne Katner, Associate professor of environmental and occupational health

“You can't make educated choices for your health or your family's health without having that data.”

— Samantha Cooke, Former communications coordinator

“On top of the boil water advisories and water main breaks, I honestly just laughed. I shook my head once again because this is so typical of New Orleans.”

— Caroline Lavie, Tulane senior

What’s next

The SWBNO's full board will vote on April 22 to approve the selection of CDM Smith as the contractor to replace the city's lead pipes, leaving ten years to complete the work before the federal deadline.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the broader challenge of aging infrastructure and the need for significant investment to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for all residents. While a local problem in New Orleans, lead contamination in water is a nationwide concern that will likely impact many communities.