The city’s electrical and sewer systems have been repeatedly disrupted by stray and discarded balloons, therefore New Orleans, which is famed for its festivals and celebratory mood, has decided to outlaw the release of metallic balloons.
Last month, the city council enacted a law that forbids the discharge of Mylar balloons and any other balloons covered in metal or other “conductive material.” It doesn’t make purchasing the balloons illegal.
During the summer, an errant group of metal balloons struck a power wire, causing a massive power outage in Orleans Parish. According to local energy provider Entergy, the temporary interruption “tripped offline” the city’s water pumps, disrupting the city’s water treatment plant and possibly resulting in significant injuries.
