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The Unsung Heroes of New Orleans:

The Sewerage and Water Board (SWB) of New Orleans is no stranger to criticism. Long plagued by billing issues, financial woes, and a lack of support from the state, the agency has often found itself in the crosshairs of public frustration. The recent East Bank-wide boil water advisory only added fuel to the fire. Residents expressed outrage and disbelief when a seemingly innocuous mylar balloon that hit an Entergy substation led to a citywide advisory, prompting questions about the SWB’s preparedness and backup systems.

But as the city grapples with the inconvenience of boiling water for daily needs, one fact has been grossly overlooked: a brave SWB employee was gravely injured in an attempt to protect our water supply. This individual, now fighting for his life in the hospital, embodies the courage and dedication of the SWB’s workers—unsung heroes who deserve our respect and gratitude.

The Incident: A First Responder’s Sacrifice

The boil water advisory was triggered not just by the power outage but by a chain of events that culminated in a near-tragedy. The SWB does, in fact, have a backup system—two water towers that provide constant water pressure, even during emergencies. These towers operate based on basic hydraulic principles: gravity maintains water pressure as the water flows down from the elevated storage tanks, ensuring a steady supply even when pumps fail.

However, during this incident, the SWB faced an unprecedented challenge. As the power outage threatened to disrupt the water supply, an SWB employee took immediate action to prevent a drop in pressure that could have led to widespread contamination. Tragically, in the process of doing so, this employee was struck in the face by a metal projectile, suffering severe injuries that have reportedly left him blind in one eye, with the possibility of permanent blindness in both.

This individual, whose name has not been released, bled profusely from deep gashes in his head and face. His swift and selfless actions were courageous and noteworthy. Attempting to do his job and prevent a drop in the city’s water pressure, he risked and nearly lost his life. But the public’s response has largely been one of anger and frustration toward the SWB, rather than sympathy for this courageous first responder.

Boil Water Advisories: An Inconvenience, Not a Catastrophe

Boil water advisories are indeed inconvenient. They disrupt daily routines, complicate food preparation, and raise concerns about public health. However, the situation in New Orleans is far from unique. Cities across the United States, including major metropolitan areas, have experienced similar advisories in recent years due to various factors such as natural disasters, infrastructure failures, and contamination risks.

In fact, this is the first citywide boil water advisory in eight years, highlighting that such events, while serious, are relatively rare. The SWB’s employees work tirelessly under challenging conditions to maintain the city’s water supply, yet their efforts are often taken for granted until something goes wrong.

The Old Joke: Misunderstanding SWB Worker

There’s an old joke that has long disparaged not just the workers of the SWB, but also its management: “What’s big and yellow, has four wheels, and sleeps six to ten? A SWB truck.” The joke refers to the common sight of a large yellow SWB truck with six to ten workers standing around while only two seem to be working. But this perception is misleading. The crew you see isn’t just loafing; they’re a well-organized team of specialists—two plumbers, a driver, three diggers, and two trench support builders—each with a specific role to play.

A multitalented crew like this is essential for handling city emergencies and routine street leak maintenance. Instead of derision, perhaps what’s needed is a better understanding of the complexity and danger involved in their work.

The Disparity in Respect for First Responders

It’s easy to forget that the SWB’s employees are, in many ways, first responders. While they may not wear uniforms or drive emergency vehicles, they play a critical role in ensuring public safety and maintaining essential services. Their work is often dangerous, requiring them to operate in hazardous environments, manage complex machinery, and respond to emergencies that could have life-threatening consequences.

Yet, despite their vital contributions, these workers are not afforded the same respect or recognition as other first responders. When a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic is injured in the line of duty, they are rightfully honored and supported by the community. But when an SWB employee is critically injured while safeguarding our water supply, the public’s response is alarmingly indifferent.

Coworkers’ Heroic Actions: A Question of Priorities

When the SWB employee was injured, his coworkers immediately dedicated all their efforts to saving and helping him. They acted bravely and did the right thing, even though their focus on the injured employee meant they couldn’t prevent the East Bank-wide water pressure drop. But what do people expect? Should they have let their coworker suffer—maybe even die—just to stop the pressure drop? Is the inconvenience and business loss really worth a human life? Would people prefer that this man had died so they wouldn’t have to boil water for a few days?

A Call for Empathy and Respect

As residents of New Orleans, we should be deeply concerned about the wellbeing of all those who work to keep our city running. The next time we are tempted to criticize the SWB or compare our city to a “third world country,” we should pause to consider the human cost behind these services. The injured SWB employee, now hospitalized and potentially facing life-altering consequences, deserves our sympathy, support, and respect.

Related: Fixing New Orleans Broken Water System

It is time to recognize the SWB’s workers as the first responders they are. Their efforts to maintain the city’s water supply, often at great personal risk, are essential to our daily lives. Instead of expressing outrage over the inconvenience of a boil water advisory, we should be rallying behind those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our health and safety.

New Orleans is a city built on resilience, and that resilience is embodied by the men and women of the Sewerage and Water Board. Let us not forget that behind every drop of water that flows from our taps, there are dedicated individuals working tirelessly—sometimes at great personal cost. They are not just workers; they are heroes. And it is high time we treated them as such.