"Louisiana Communities Receive Vital Fresh Water Supplies to Combat Saltwater Intrusion"

Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana is facing saltwater intrusion that threatens drinking supplies, with emergency transports of fresh water being brought in by barges until the Mississippi River's flow is strong enough to push the seawater back. The crisis has already cost $33 million and the community is reliant on state and federal support. The parish hopes for investment in desalination technology, as saltwater intrusion is expected to occur annually. In New Orleans, the low level of the Mississippi River and the encroaching saltwater pose threats to drinking and irrigation supplies, infrastructure, and the shipping industry. Urgent measures are needed to address climate change impacts.