Get the Lead Out Campaign

About the Program

New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board (SWBNO) has joined forces with Blue Conduit, a water analytics company, to conduct a complete inventory of the city's pipes, culminating in the creation of a publicly accessible interactive map known as the New Orleans Water Service Line Map. This innovative tool will empower residents by offering insights into the composition of their home water pipes, providing access to pipe inspection details, and offering resources to protect households from the risks of lead exposure. This collaboration comes as the Biden Administration secures the largest single investment in the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems in history with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, allocating $15 billion to remove lead pipes and $50 billion for clean water infrastructure. 

The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, in partnership with community organizations Total Community Action and Civic Studio, is leading a corresponding public engagement program through early 2024. This collaborative effort is supported by national environmental organizations – WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and BlueConduit – as they provide funding and support to connect us with other cities that have done this work, best practices, and technical expertise. The introduction of this map will guarantee that SWBNO complies with the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions well in advance of the October 2024 deadline. Furthermore, it will play an active role in advancing the federal government’s ambitious goal of eliminating lead from the nation's water supply. A key aspect of this endeavor is the unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable distribution, with a primary emphasis on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities as the top priority. This approach is pivotal in addressing historical disparities and aligns seamlessly with the overarching objective of the project – the establishment of a more secure and equitable water system that is accessible to every resident of New Orleans.

 
“What will it take for our community to feel empowered as part of the decision-making for Lead Service Line replacements?”
— NOLA Community Hub
 

2023 Open Studios

Through Open Studios, we shared knowledge, incorporated the voices and creativity of youth into civic dialogue, developed educational resources, and contributed to shaping plans for replacing the city's lead service lines.

  • June 1 – Treme Recreation Community Center

  • July 17  – Gernon Brown Recreation Center

  • September 14 – Algiers Regional Library

 

Resources

Press Release - April 2023

Biden-⁠Harris “Get the Lead Out” Partnership - January 2023

SWBNO will provide free lead testing for any New Orleans residence. You do not need to own your home or receive a SWBNO bill to get a free testing kit.

  • Contact SWBNO’s Lab at (504) 865-0420 or waterinfo@swbno.org.

  • A test kit with instructions will be mailed to your address. Kits are delivered by USPS, and return postage is provided. A signature is not required for delivery.

  • Results from lead testing may take approximately six to eight weeks. All results are provided by mail. If your results are above the EPA’s action level, you will also receive notification by phone or email.

  • Visit SWBNO’s Lead Awareness page to learn more about mitigating lead impacts.

Contact

For further information or any questions, please contact: Taya Fontenette at taya@nolawater.org