New Orleans Moves Toward Major Restructuring of Sewerage and Water Board

New Orleans is moving toward one of the most significant changes in the History of the Sewerage and Water Board, with city leaders establishing a goal of transforming the century-old utility into a Department of City Government by 2028.

The plan follows changes approved this year that give the New Orleans City Council broader oversight of Sewerage and Water Board operations, including budgets, rates, major contracts, borrowing and executive leadership. The next phase would go considerably further by integrating the Utility’s Operations with City Hall.

Mayor Helena Moreno has identified 2028 as the target for full integration.

Under the proposed transition, 2026 and 2027 would be used to increase cooperation between the City and the Sewerage and Water Board. Plans include sharing employees, equipment and other resources, combining some administrative functions and improving coordination between the utility and the Department of Public Works. A Transition Officer also is expected to help guide the process.

Jonathan Stewart, recently elected as the First Citizen President of the Sewerage and Water Board in decades, will lead the board during this transition.

What Could Change for Residents

For New Orleans residents, the most important question is whether restructuring will improve everyday services.

Greater coordination could help address one of the city’s longstanding frustrations: streets being torn up for Underground Water or Sewer Repairs and remaining damaged long after utility work is completed. One proposal would allow the Department of Public Works to perform temporary paving following Sewerage and Water Board Projects.

Bringing the utility closer to City Government also could create clearer lines of accountability. When residents experience billing problems, water-main breaks, drainage failures or lengthy infrastructure repairs, determining which agency or governmental body is responsible has often been complicated. A more unified structure could make responsibility clearer.

Opportunities and Risks

The potential benefits, however, must be weighed against the complexity of the undertaking.

The Sewerage and Water Board employs approximately 1,200 people and oversees critical water, sewer and drainage infrastructure. Integrating such a large operation into City Government will require decisions involving employees, finances, assets, contracts and Long-Term Infrastructure Funding.

There also is the question of whether changing governance will produce better performance. New Orleans continues to confront aging water and sewer infrastructure, major repair needs and drainage challenges. Earlier this year, officials acknowledged those aging systems while discussing urgent transmission-main repairs and other infrastructure problems.

Ultimately, residents are likely to judge the restructuring not by organizational charts but by results: more accurate bills, fewer disruptions, faster repairs, better drainage, improved streets and greater transparency.