Current:Home > StocksSalt water intrusion in Mississippi River could impact drinking water in Louisiana-InfoLens
Salt water intrusion in Mississippi River could impact drinking water in Louisiana
View Date:2024-12-23 14:53:32
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has signed an emergency declaration over an intrusion of salt water into the Mississippi River that officials say could impact the water supply in the region.
"We will continue to work with our partners locally and state-wide as we closely monitor this situation," Cantrell wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Officials said weather forecasts indicate that river volume will fall to historic lows in the next several weeks. As a result, salt water from the Gulf of Mexico is intruding upstream in Louisiana.
"Plaquemines Parish has been affected by this issue since June. Drought conditions have only gotten worse since that time, which means additional communities along the Mississippi River could be impacted," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement Friday.
Intruding salt water at the Boothville Water Treatment Plant water intake in Plaquemines Parish is impacting the drinking water supply to residents and businesses from Empire to Venice in southeastern Louisiana, local officials said.
MORE: Tropical Storm Ophelia makes landfall in North Carolina with winds of 70 mph
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed an underwater barrier sill in July to create an artificial basin to help delay the ingress of saltwater. The upriver intrusion of saltwater overtopped the sill's elevation earlier this week.
Edwards said additional work will begin soon to further delay an increase of the saltwater intrusion.
Next week, officials will begin making the existing sill larger to further delay the saltwater intrusion by an estimated 10 to 15 days.
The river's water level is forecast to continue to drop and very minimal rainfall to mitigate the circumstances is expected. Local, state and federal officials are working to determine what can be done to protect water systems and water intake points.
MORE: Earth has experienced its warmest August on record, says NOAA
"Unfortunately, without any relief from the dry weather we are starting to see the saltwater intrusion creep further up the river despite efforts to mitigate the problems by the Army Corps of Engineers," Edwards said.
"Most importantly, this is not a time to panic or listen to misinformation," he added. "We have been through this situation before in 1988, and we are monitoring this situation very closely and applying the lessons learned. It is extremely important for the public to stay informed and only rely on credible sources for updates during this event."
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Shawn Mendes Confesses He and Camila Cabello Are No Longer the Closest
- What is a Beaver Moon, and when can you see it?
- Wilders ally overseeing first stage of Dutch coalition-building quits over fraud allegation
- 12 tips and tricks to unlock the full potential of your iPhone
- Lost luggage? This new Apple feature will let you tell the airline exactly where it is.
- Mississippi Rep. Banks gets probation on tax conviction and intends to remain in office
- Pennsylvania will require patient consent for pelvic exams by medical students
- Arrest made after 3 Palestinian college students shot in Burlington, Vermont, police say
- Utah AD Mark Harlan fined $40,000 for ripping referees and the Big 12 after loss to BYU
- Lulus' Cyber Monday Sale 2023: Save Up to 90% Off Buzzworthy Dresses, Accessories & More
Ranking
- Fantasy football buy low, sell high: 10 trade targets for Week 11
- Central European interior ministers agree to step up fight against illegal migration at EU borders
- Roommates sue Maryland county over death of pet dog shot by police
- Giving back during the holiday season: What you need to know to lend a helping hand
- Deion Sanders doubles down on vow to 99-year-old Colorado superfan
- Second group of Hamas-held hostages released after hours-long delay; temporary cease-fire holds
- Accused security chief for sons of El Chapo arrested in Mexico: A complete psychopath
- Elon Musk visits Israel to meet top leaders as accusations of antisemitism on X grow
Recommendation
-
Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
-
Qatar is the go-to mediator in the Mideast war. Its unprecedented Tel Aviv trip saved a shaky truce
-
Kevin 'Geordie' Walker, guitarist of English rock band Killing Joke, dies of stroke at 64
-
Elon Musk visits Israel to meet top leaders as accusations of antisemitism on X grow
-
What are the best financial advising companies? Help USA TODAY rank the top U.S. firms
-
Taylor Swift Meets Family of Fan Who Died in Brazil
-
West Virginia removes 12-step recovery programs for inmate release. What does it mean?
-
Beijing police investigate major Chinese shadow bank Zhongzhi after it says it’s insolvent