Power Line in New Orleans Hit by Balloon, Prompting Citywide Boil Water Advisory

A boil water advisory was issued for the East Bank of New Orleans and Algiers Point after a mylar balloon hit a power line near the Carrollton Water Treatment Plant, causing a brief power outage. The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans switched to backup power and additional pumps to maintain water pressure, but it still fell below the threshold for a precautionary advisory. Over 90 samples need to be collected and tested before the advisory can be lifted, potentially lasting until Thursday afternoon. Residents are advised to use boiled or bottled water for drinking and avoid swallowing water while bathing. Mylar balloons are known to cause power outages and have been an issue in California, leading the state to plan for a phase-out and eventual ban of the balloons by 2031.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com