Modernizing a Century-Old Site: Entergy Substation Built on Former Pond Keeps New Orleans Dry

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) has produced its own power for generations, using turbine generators that had been operational since the 1920s (in addition to overseeing the city’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater). It’s modernizing its plant with the development of a new Power Complex, which will continue on-site generation AND enable the use of local utility Entergy’s grid power, increasing resiliency for its customers. Entergy Power Complex plans include building the new Entergy Substation, as well as replacing turbine generators and installing new static frequency changers to create the power needed for SWBNO’s 25-hz pumps.

“We pump every drop of water that falls on the city. And with that, we rely very, very significantly on power,” said Ghassan Korban, SWBNO Executive Director.

Entergy partnered with Black & Veatch to design and construct the SWBNO Substation to withstand the elements, ensuring the city can connect to the power it needs to drain storm water and provide fresh drinking water to the community throughout critical events.

“We pump every drop of water that falls on the city. And with that, we rely very, very significantly on power,” said Ghassan Korban, SWBNO Executive Director.

Entergy partnered with Black & Veatch to design and construct the SWBNO Substation to withstand the elements, ensuring the city can connect to the power it needs to drain storm water and provide fresh drinking water to the community throughout critical events.

A project driven by partnership

This project is not only a case study of technical ingenuity, but also of the importance of collaboration. “It’s happening because of the partnership that we were able to create with the city, with the state, with the federal government, as well as the local power company, Entergy,” said Korban, SWBNO Executive Director. “Bringing Black & Veatch in early on as we were scoping the project really helped. That collaboration was essential,” said Mario Ceravolo, Entergy Project Manager.

The substation is just one critical piece in SWBNO’s developing Power Complex–a grand plan to enhance stormwater management and delivery of clean drinking water in a city on the front lines of climate risk. Download our whitepaper to learn how the execution team dealt with:

• settling soil at the foundation site

• high heat and humidity during construction

• supply chain disruptions

• working inside an existing facility with another active construction site

• flood mitigation needs of a substation in a city below sea level