LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, has authorized the declaration of an emergency due to a saltwater incursion into the Mississippi River, which authorities fear may have an effect on the region’s water supply.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Cantrell stated, “We will continue to engage with our partners locally and statewide as we closely watch this issue.
In the upcoming weeks, according to officials, river volume will reach historic lows due to weather predictions. As a result, Louisiana’s upstream areas are being invaded by saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico.
This problem has been affecting Plaquemines Parish since June. Since then, the drought situation has only gotten worse, and more cities near the Mississippi River may now be at risk, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards warned in a statement on Friday.
According to local officials, the drinking water supply for people and businesses from Empire to Venice in southeast Louisiana is being impacted by intrusive seawater at the Boothville Water Treatment Plant water intake in Plaquemines Parish.
In July, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built an underwater barrier sill to create a man-made basin that would assist in slowing the entry of saltwater. Earlier this week, the elevation of the sill was overtopped by the seawater incursion upriver.
According to Edwards, additional work will shortly start in an effort to further postpone the increase in saltwater incursion.
To further postpone the seawater intrusion by an anticipated 10 to 15 days, officials will start enlarging the current sill the following week.
The river’s water level is predicted to decrease more, and there won’t be much rain to improve the situation. Officials at the local, state, and federal levels are figuring out what can be done to safeguard water systems and water intake sites.
Despite efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers to address the issues, Edwards lamented that without any relief from the dry weather, saltwater intrusion was beginning to move further up the river.
Most importantly, he said, “Now is not the time to worry or pay attention to false information. “We went through a similar circumstance in 1988, and we are closely monitoring this one and using the lessons we learned from that experience. During this event, it is crucial for the general population to be informed and only rely on reliable sources for information.