The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) is a public utility company established in 1899 that provides water, sewerage, and drainage services to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The organization operates as an independent entity from the city government, though the Mayor of New Orleans serves as the president of its Board of Directors. SWBNO manages one of the world’s largest water treatment and drainage systems, processing approximately 142 million gallons of water daily from the Mississippi River. The utility maintains over 1,800 miles of water mains, 1,500 miles of sewer lines, and 90 miles of drainage canals. The system includes the historic Wood Screw Pumping Station, which features pumps designed by A. Baldwin Wood in the early 1900s that remain crucial to the city’s drainage system. The organization plays a vital role in New Orleans’ flood protection infrastructure, operating 24 drainage pumping stations and over 120 drainage pumps throughout the city. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, SWBNO underwent significant modernization efforts to improve system reliability and emergency preparedness. The utility serves approximately 400,000 residents and businesses in Orleans Parish, managing both drinking water distribution and wastewater treatment operations.