Lingering drought conditions have kept the Mississippi River at abnormally low levels and significantly weakened its flow, allowing salt water to creep in.

Officials in Louisiana are in a race against time as salt water from the Gulf of Mexico threatens drinking water supplies in New Orleans and its surrounding areas because of unusually low levels in the drought-addled Mississippi River.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an emergency declaration Friday in response to concerns that salt water encroaching upriver could affect the availability of safe drinking water in the coming weeks.

The situation highlights the dangers of saltwater intrusion for communities in the southeastern part of Louisiana and adds to broader concerns about climate change and the availability of safe drinking water in drought-prone parts of the country.

  • Jerb322@lemmy.world
    301·
    1 year ago

    Wisconsin here. Sorry, we’re just now getting regular rain fall…there are small ponds here I’ve never seen empty, and they are all dried up. I’m 47.

    • Uncle_Bagel@midwest.social
      91·
      1 year ago

      Inability to get water to annexed Crimea was a major reason for Russia to invade Ukraine. The water wars have already started

    • Buelldozer@lemmy.today
      3·
      1 year ago

      What do you mean began? In the Western US they started over 100 years ago and they’re STILL going on.

      • Chocrates@lemmy.world
        7·
        1 year ago

        Haha, how does our state leadership feel about climate change? Back in Texas they still pretend it’s not real.

        • zepheriths@lemmy.world
          71·
          1 year ago

          John Bel Edwards, Has put a great amount of care. 2 issues though: 1, the state Senate and 2, other states. Louisiana is " the asshole of the US" in a very literal sense. As a result we have to deal with the pollution from over 100 million people in 19 states directly. Policy under Edwards has been rather pro protection of the bayou. That’s all Louisiana can do. Louisiana doesn’t emit a lot of emissions, and Louisianas main export isn’t even oil any more, its soybeans. Blaming Louisiana for climate change is like blaming the kid being bullied for the bullies.

          • fireweed@lemmy.world
            5·
            1 year ago

            Does Louisiana still vote GOP in House, Senate, and presidential elections? Then they’re still one of the climate (and LGBTQ and racial and class and…) bullies.

            • zepheriths@lemmy.world
              15·
              1 year ago

              ??? We aren’t talking about that? Your moral grand standing is not productive. We are discussing climate change, nothing else.

                • zepheriths@lemmy.world
                  1·
                  1 year ago

                  Joke on you Louisiana has no economy to take action on in the first place. Also I already covered that earlier. I’m not repeating.

          • Chocrates@lemmy.world
            1·
            1 year ago

            I’m not blaming us… We are going to be hit by the effects more than a lot of states so we better start trying to mitigate stuff. Also just learned we are about to be drinking saltwater because of a drought north of us 😭

            Edit: LOL, I learned about that here! Sorry I’m tired.

  • tsonfeir@lemm.eeEnglish
    71·
    1 year ago

    It’s funny to think that New Orleans is complaining about not having ENOUGH water.