The Sewerage & Water Board on Thursday defended the performance of its $300 million power complex, arguing it was “inaccurate” to call the system unreliable two days after top officials at the utility acknowledged that key components wouldn’t be relied upon during major storms.
In a prepared statement that appeared to contradict some of its leadership’s comments Tuesday in front of the City Council, the utility that’s been under fire for its performance following Tropical Storm Arthur said that “recent public statements characterizing the Power Complex as unreliable are inaccurate and do not reflect the system’s design or performance.”
It said that electrical components known as frequency changers, which tripped off during the June 18 storm and slowed the work of its drainage pumps, “are a reliable component of our drainage infrastructure” and that the storm offered “valuable operational experience” that would strengthen the system as it refined the way it used equipment and its operating procedures…