NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The Orleans Sewerage and Water Board says a vessel struck the 54-inch sewer pipe on Friday night (April 17), causing a massive sewage leak that continues. Divers have been working in the waters of the Industrial Canal to stop the flow, as thousands of gallons of raw sewage from the Lower 9th Ward continue to bubble to the surface.
“Everything is by feel, there is zero visibility, the current is ripping, we’re just doing what we can with what we’ve got,” said Josh Lambert with Specialty Diving.
“It is not uncommon for pipelines in our canals to spring a leak…it happens a lot,” said Engineer HJ Bosworth with Levees.org, who used to be an inspector for the Sewerage and Water Board and says there could be other routes for the sewage to flow while repairs are made…