NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A new report from Verite News finds 6 out of 10 tested homes in New Orleans have lead in their water, based on unpublished data from the Sewerage and Water Board.
The data covers approximately 1,100 homes tested between September 2022 and May 2025 as part of the utility’s first free water testing program. Nearly every home with lead exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended limit.
Jessica Dandridge-Smith, who leads the New Orleans Water Collaborative, a water quality watchdog group, said the findings extend beyond a single city’s problem…