New Orleans drinking water in crisis as saltwater intrudes on Mississippi River

 

New Orleans’ supply of drinking water has been thrown into crisis due to the threat of saltwater intrusion from the Gulf of Mexico on the rapidly-shrinking Mississippi River.

On Friday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced plans to declare a state of emergency. The US Army Corps of Engineers has also laid out a timeline of when parts of the state’s southeastern region are expected to be impacted, and is transporting millions of gallons of freshwater to create a mix that is safe for use.

Some parts of Louisiana are already under a boil water advisory. Local governments have set up bottled water distribution centers and patients on dialysis or with kidney failure have been advised to consult with their physician.

The water crisis threatens to reach parts of New Orleans, a city of more than 370,000, by late October.

The Mississippi River is expected to hit record lows for the second, consecutive year and increase the chance of saltwater moving upstream...MORE