"Saltwater Intrusion Crisis: Louisiana Takes Urgent Measures to Protect Water Supply"

Drought-like conditions in the Midwest have caused water levels in the Mississippi River to drop, making it susceptible to saltwater intrusion from the Gulf of Mexico. This intrusion is endangering the drinking water systems in and around New Orleans, as well as smaller municipalities to the south. Officials are working to slow the influx of saltwater and bring in more fresh water to the region. Water treatment facilities are at risk due to high salinity levels, which corrode pipes and cause metals to leach into the water. The Army Corps of Engineers has built an underwater sill to impede the saltwater flow, but it will only delay the progression by a few weeks. The Corps is also transporting water by barges to supplement the drinking water supply. The threat of saltwater intrusion is increasing as sea levels rise due to climate change.