May 11, 2006
Councilman John Jay Batt
Council District A
1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Dear Councilman Batt:
Over the previous 255 days since Hurricane Katrina, the Board of Directors of the Sewerage and Water Board and its staff has focused on restoring the water systems.
Our focus has been on all systems, Drinking Water, Sewerage, Drainage, as well as the Power System, which supports both the drinking water, and drainage systems.
The purpose of this correspondence is to share with you the status; immediate and long-term plans for Drainage Pump Station # 6 located at 345 Orpheum Street, Metairie, Louisiana. Through a long term, agreement with Jefferson Parish the Board provides drainage services for 2,500 Acers of Jefferson Parish through DPS # 6. In order to best describe the current status and future plans for the station the following table was developed.
Drainage Pump Station # 6
| System Capacity | Commercial Power | SWB Power |
| # Pumps | Capacity | # Pumps | Capacity | # Pumps | Capacity |
| 15 | 9,480 cfs | 6 | 3,200 cfs | 9 | 6,280cfs |
SHORT TERM – PUMP STATION MOTORS
Within hours following Hurricane Katrina, the Board immediately begins the process of drying and baking pump motors in order to be able to use the equipment to de-water the city once the CORPS of Engineers completed levee closures. Since August 29, 2005 the SWB Board of Directors has authorized over 60 million dollars of repair work to the pumping and electrical systems It was vital for the pumping equipment to be available for the fall, winter and spring rainfall. Because the majority of our equipment was submerged in salt water, it was critical that long-term repairs be scheduled. The Board staff issued several emergency contracts to begin the re-winding process while concurrently working with the CORPS technical staff and our congressional delegation to not only fund but also authorize the long-term repairs.
March 2006, the CORPS notified the Board that it had received authorization to accept responsibility to repair all pump motors at a 100% federal cost. On Monday, May 8, 2006, the CORP accepted proposal to have motors re-wound, which included the motors at DPS# 6. The CORPS anticipates the work will be accomplished within 160 days from contract execution
IMMEDIATE TERM- PUMP STATION MOTORS, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS
In addition to the motor re-winding program, the CORP will also complete other structural and motor repairs. The CORPS in is the process of awarding several engineering and construction contracts.
Before Hurricane Katrina, the Board of Directors had authorized the staff to purchase diesel generators to provide full back-up power for the six pumps (3,200 csf) served by commercial-Entergy power. The back-up power project was originally scheduled to be funded and completed over a two-year period. The generators ordered before the hurricane have been delivered Recently, the CORPS notified the Board that it will assume complete financial and installation responsibility for the purchase of the remaining parts and equipment and will accelerate the installation of the generators.
LONG TERM- NEW PUMP STATION
In order to prevent another storm surge from entering the 17th street canal which receives discharge from the following location:
DPS # 1 (Broad & MKL)
Pritchard Pump Station
Hoey’s Cut (Jefferson Parish)
1-10 Mound (Underpass)
Canal Street Station (Jefferson Parish)
The CORPS is installing Flood Structures at Lake Pontchartrain. The structures will affect the ability of the SWB to drain both Orleans and parts of Jefferson Parish. To correct the problems of the flood control structures the CORP has been authorized by Congress to design and construct a new drainage pump station at the intersection of the 17th street canal and Lake Pontchartrain.
I trust that the above information will assist you in addressing so of the concerns of the Lakeview Community.
Sincerely
Marcia A. St. Martin
Executive Director
cc: Mayor C. Ray Nagin
Tommie Vassel
