Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
New Orleans, Louisiana
State Louisiana
City New Orleans
County1 Orleans Parish*
City Population (2005)2 437,186 10.0% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 38 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 38 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Mid
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Baton Rouge
State Population (2005)2 4,389,747
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Ray Nagin
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.cityofno.com/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 504-658-4000
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, April 24, 2010
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Kathleen Blanco
State/Governor Website http://doa.louisiana.gov/doa/
State/Governor Contact Information 225-342-7015
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.47    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 21.6%    
     Disability Status 15.6% 43  
     Emphysema 1.21% 47  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.31% 42  
     Diabetes 5.15% 44  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.62% 69  
     Adult Asthma 6.40% 1  
     Adult Obesity 23.3%   44
     People Without Health Insurance 17.7%   42
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.8% 44  
     Age: 65 years and over 11.3% 45  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 39.0% 69  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 17.7% 34  
     High School Drop-Out Rate (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 13.2% 65  
     Individuals Below Poverty 23.2% 58  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 40.3% 72  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 74.6% 56  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 6.8% 9  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.9    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 42.3 (of 51) 62  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 102,002,254 pounds   41
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 150,558,279 pounds 42
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 92,797,395 pounds 49
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,290,631,174 pounds 50
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,113,109,224 pounds 48
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 1,038.2 grams 50
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.776 tons per person 8
Recycling Rate (1997) 14.0% 41
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 6,308,427 tons 30
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.4 tons/person 32
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 835,318 tons 26
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 13.2% 37
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 4.2% 19
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 80.4% 45
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -5.7% 23
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    1.8***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 101,900 tons   25
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 80,400 tons   27
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 46,890,700 tons   29
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 1,240.0 pounds   23
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 0.0 days 1  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.3 PM2.5 8  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 12.4 PM2.5 31  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 0.0 days 1  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.7 PM2.5 20  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 11.7 PM2.5 29  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 4 ppm 42  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.015 ppm 18  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 26 ug/m3 24  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.003 ppm 15  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 8 days 16  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score) 3.6    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade Good ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade Poor ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade Poor ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Eastern Louisiana Coastal ---  
# of Units in Watershed 34 units 40  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 34 units 29  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 17 units 32  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 50.0% 14  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 61.88 inches 1  
Water Area Total, square miles 6,085 square miles 6  
Water Area Inland, square miles 4,153 square miles 12  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 1,931 square miles 3  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station New Orleans ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 50 years 45  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 115 days 28  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station New Orleans ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 50 years 46  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 0.2 inches 51  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 9,850,000,000 gallons/day 29  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 2,270,000,000 gallons/day 10  
Ground water, gallons/day 1,350,000,000 gallons/day 30  
Surface water, gallons/day 8,500,000,000 gallons/day 31  
Irrigation, gallons/day 769,000,000 gallons/day 37  
Public Supply, gallons/day 677,000,000 gallons/day 42  
Industrial, gallons/day 2,580,000,000 gallons/day 8  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 5,480,000,000 gallons/day 32  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 1,930,000,000 gallons/day 33  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier New Orleans - Carrolton Water Works ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 428,000 people 43  
Year(s) Included in Summary (Not Available) ---  
Total Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water (Not Available) ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    3.0***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,684.3 people per square mile 43  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,191.3 housing units per square mile 41  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 25.7 minutes 51  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 22.5 minutes 41  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 16.1% 12  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 13.7% 13  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 6.4% 16  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.7% 37  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 107.0 49  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 84.6 MV registrations   26
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 33.6%   14
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 45.5 MV registrations   21
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.19 MV registrations   29
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 60,937 miles   19
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.318%   19
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 22.9%   23
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   21
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 16.41 miles   21
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,498,000,000   25
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $24,583 per mile   27
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 25.0%   6
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 10.0 hours per person 6  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $167 per person 7  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $183,000,000 11  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 6 gallons per person 5  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $31,369 61  
Median Household Income (2000) $27,133 67  
Per capita income (2004) $19,711 52  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $17,258 58  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 14.5% 40  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 27.9% 69  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 23.2% 58  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 5.4% 46  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 40.3% 72  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 28,312 people 50  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 8.4% 65  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 13.2% 65  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 5.5% 53  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 9.5% 59  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 34.6% 55  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 28.0% 48  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) No Minimum Wage Law ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 82,424 kids (1.9% of total pop.) 36  
Largest School District Enrollment 77,610 kids (1.8% of total pop.) 23  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 74.6% 56  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 82.3% 38  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 31.0% 30  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 39% 69  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Behind the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade D   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Incomplete   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Poor   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 180,382 units 35  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 53.2% 18  
Cost of Living: Housing 61.4 18  
Cost of Living: Utilities 104.2 39  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 98.4 24  
Cost of Living: Overall 88.6 24  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 60.75%   30
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 49.40%   17
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 63.20%   11
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 22.7%   49
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 6,110.3 incidents per 100,000 people 32  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 948.3 incidents per 100,000 people 43  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 5,162.0 incidents per 100,000 people 30  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 6,119.0 incidents per 100,000 people 28  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 4.1    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.9 parks per square mile 21  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 0.0 park acres per city square mile 45  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 10.8 acres 29  
Parkland as % of City Area 4.5% 45  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $43 per resident 8  
Total City Tree Canopy % 12.1% 25  
Total City Urbanized Area % 79.5% 58  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Some ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Some ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks Some ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.3    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.62% 69
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 6.40% 1
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.11% 38
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.21% 47
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.31% 42
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.15% 44  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 23.3% 44
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 7.6% 15
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 21.0% 48
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 10.3% 49
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 222.8 49
Cost of Living: Health 107.0 38  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 18.7% 45
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 17.7% 42
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -5.3% 6
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -0.9% 5
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 1 farm 65
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 2 markets 61
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 2 restaurants 19
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 0 grocery stores 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 0 other sources 57
Cost of Living: Food 107.6 50
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 98.2% 67
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 45.0% 49
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.8***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 25 kW   21
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 100 kW   9
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs None   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Mandates supported by other incentives   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 4.3%   30
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 47 years 32
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 60% 19
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.2 mph 45
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.3 mph 37
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 6.1 mph 57
Heating Degree Days 1,513 days 7
Cooling Degree Days 2,655 days 56
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 50 years 9
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 88% 56
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 64% 56
Elevation, feet 0 feet 1
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 437,186 38 (of 72 in EDN study) 10.0% of state population
City Population (2000) 484,674 31 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 4,389,747 24 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region South ---  
EPA Region 6 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 181.0 square miles 26 0.8% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 43,566 square miles 33  
Watershed Name Eastern Louisiana Coastal ---  
Elevation, feet 0 ft. (0.0 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 52.6°F (11.4°C) 10
Average Daily Temperature - July 82.7°F (28.2°C) 59  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 34.8 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 73.7% 44  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 11.3% 26  
Under 5 years of age 34,494 kids (7.8% of total pop.) 35  
One Race-White % (2005) 28.0% 67  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 72.0% 6  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 3.1% 62  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 6.8% 64  
Largest School District Name Orleans Parish ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network