Businesses across the area, including many in the French Quarter, say they are using extra caution and resorting to bottled water after city leaders say a water main break on Claiborne Avenue prompted a widespread boil advisory.
“Yep, here we go again, we’re going to do what we have to do to keep business rolling,” said James Clesi.
Clesi’s seafood in Mid City is resorting to bottled water to not only keep customers and employees safe, but also to stay open.
“It’s crawfish season, we’re going to keep rolling, we’re going to keep boiling and working,” said Clesi.
They are taking precautions after the Sewerage and Water Board issued a widespread boil water advisory that spans from Uptown all the way to the French Quarter.
“The contractors are already on site, they’re here to do the work, repair it, it’s our goal to get this back to normal as quickly as possible,” said Randy Hayman.
Drone 6 video shows crews working to make repairs along a buckling stretch of Claiborne Avenue, which was covered in water just hours before.
“It can happen because the pipes in New Orleans are old, but it’s not just here, it happens everywhere, and so some are 100 years old. This pipe, in particular, was 88 years old,” said Hayman.
The water main break sent floodwaters to storefronts, forcing several to close.
There’s no exact timeline on when the advisory will be lifted; that’s why businesses in the French Quarter are being careful.
“It’s definitely important because a lot of people and tourists when they come down to have fun on Bourbon Street and drink, so it’s the first thing we do is greet the guest with bottled water,” said Tyree Smith.
The Sewerage and Water Board says test samples were collected this afternoon and those results will be shared Tuesday.
READ MORE:Widespread boil water advisory prompts businesses to close
