For the past few months, New Orleans East residents have been dealing with a rotten egg smell creeping into their homes and backyards, with some saying it’s caused headaches and bloody noses.
The smell is coming from fecal matter leaking into the Dwyer Canal after a sewage pipe leak earlier this year.
“I just want clean water, fresh air. That’s all I ask for,” said Chadsidy Blackstone, New Orleans East resident, “This is a serious, this emergency, and I feel like they should be jumping on it immediately.”
Blackstone said she’s noticed the smell since she moved in 14 years ago, and it’s only gotten worse after the leak. She said when she first complained, the Sewerage and Water Board told her it was coming from her house.
Sage Michael Pellet, resident and climate justice organizer, also noticed a smell last winter and decided to conduct his own research. In his findings, he found the release of hydrogen sulfide, broken manholes, sewage leaks, and water leaks along the canal.
He also found that weather conditions can exacerbate the smell.
“When it’s a hot, foggy day, late at night, when we’re sleeping, this fog seeps into our home because the pressure is low, the atmosphere is low. It’s denser,” he said, “while we’re asleep at night, all of a sudden, you get a headache. All of a sudden, you smell bad…And what can you do? Nothing.”
Since his research, Pellet has connected with other residents, including Blackstone, to confront SWBNO and discuss improvement.
In response to the sewage leak, the city has sent over a statement from Steve Nelson, Deputy CAO of Infrastructure.
“Given the way things stand, the city is not able to impose any restrictions or requirements on SWBNO. With that said, we are very interested in monitoring the effectiveness of the measures SWBNO has put in place, and we are very much interested in seeing New Orleans East succeed and receive basic services.”
Residents plan to meet again on April 29 to discuss future steps to work with the utility.
READ MORE:New Orleans East reports rotten egg smell along the Dwyer Canal
