The Mississippi River’s saltwater intrusion problem, explained

The situation is threatening drinking water supplies, causing angst among farmers who rely on the river for irrigation and posing risks to infrastructure.As the “saltwater wedge” continues its march upriver, the mayor of New Orleans signed an emergency declaration. The Biden administration approved the Louisiana governor’s request for federal aid.

As the situation continues to unfold, here are answers to some of the most immediate questions about what is happening along the river, and what comes next:There are multiple factors, but the most urgent one is clear: Drought.the flow of the Mississippi. In more normal times, the mighty river’s flow is strong enough to prevent salt water from intruding very far upstream.

As the saltwater wedge creeps further upriver, the likelihood grows that those facilities and the tens of thousands of people they serve could lose access to reliably safe water. Drinking water with high salinity levels poses health risks, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as people with high blood pressure, kidney disease and infants or those who are pregnant.and officials have been making bottled water available to thousands of residents for months.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a recent news conference that there is no reason for people to panic or race to stock up on bottled water, and he vowed to notify residents who are at risk when the time comes. Meanwhile, leaders of local hospitals, schools and other institutions areSalt water is not good for pets or crops. It can corrode plumbing fixtures and wreak havoc on industrial machinery.“It’s been consuming me.

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