For almost two months sewage had been discharging into the Dwyer Canal in New Orleans East. But the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) did not begin a more focused investigation into the multiple locations where tainted water flowed into the canal until three weeks ago. That focused approach resulted from presentations by SWBO at a Public Works/Utility Joint Committee meeting.
Sage Michael Pellet, Healthy Gulf’s Climate Justice Organizer and New Orleans East resident, first documented and alerted the Sewage and Water Board to these issues in December 2025. But only now is action being taken to rectify the situation. SWBNO is now testing the water and says they will have engineers inspecting the areas and the Executive Director will present next steps. Community member Chadsidy Blackstone noted that residents have complained about pollution and bad smells for 14 years.
Pellet made recommendations to keep that from happening again, such as testing water more frequently and taking preventative measures in the stormwater drainage system, like linings and covers. “When sewer systems fail, it impacts our health, our quality of life, and the environment. For that reason, sewer discharges to the Dwyer Canal must remain a priority and treat it as an emergency now.”
Local Media Coverage from WWNO – New Orleans Public Radio.