Century-old pipe exploded underground, flooding Uptown New Orleans streets
(UI) — A 30-inch cast-iron water main installed in 1908 ruptured beneath Upperline Street on June 26, sending thousands of gallons into Uptown neighborhoods and prompting a boil-water advisory for most of Uptown and Central City, according to WWL-TV.
Sewerage & Water Board General Superintendent Steve Nelson said a four-foot section of the line “just broke off,” creating 10–12 inches of standing water on nearby blocks before crews could isolate the break.
Repair teams reached the site within an hour and worked around the clock through Sunday to replace the damaged section. Because the line feeds much of Uptown from the Carrollton Water Plant, the rupture caused a sharp drop in pressure, forcing restaurants along Freret Street either to close or rely on boiled and bottled water, WWL-TV reported.
System pressure was restored by June 30, water samples tested safe, and the boil order was lifted.
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