Boil-Water Advisory Lifted

It’s safe to drink the water again in New Orleans. The boil-water advisory is now canceled.

The Sewerage & Water Board says samples came back negative for bacteria contamination. A power outage yesterday morning at a sewer plant prompted the city to issue a boil-water advisory. It meant that 300,000 residents on the east bank had to boil water for drinking and cooking.

The decision resulted in many restaurants, businesses and some schools closing. Many are complaining the warning came several hours after the power outage caused a pressure drop, when bacteria could have seeped into the system.

Officials say the pressure didn’t drop to levels that allow contamination, and the advisory was just precautionary.