drinking water

Residents were under a boil water notice this week after a water main break in the Little Woods neighborhood of New Orleans. The advisory was later canceled.

Boil water advisory for part of New Orleans East canceled

Athina Morris

In this aerial photo, a tugboat pushing barges navigates around a sandbar during low water levels on the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, La., and Reserve, La., in Livingston Parish, La., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

We answer your questions about the saltwater wedge in the Mississippi River

Halle Parker

As salt water moves up the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico, residents across the greater New Orleans area have been left with many questions.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Cullen Jones, who commands the New Orleans District, provides an update on his office's measures to address a "saltwater wedge" moving up a historically low Mississippi River during a news conference on Sept. 15, 2023.

Coastal Desk

Salt water threatens South Louisiana drinking water second year in a row amid severe drought

Halle Parker

As the Mississippi River drops to one of its lowest levels in recent history, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said salt water from the Gulf of Mexico could threaten drinking water as far north as New Orleans’ French Quarter if no action is taken.

An aerial view of barges and container ships traveling down the Mississippi River in April 2022. Industrial plants line the river banks.

Coastal Desk

‘Forever chemicals’ detected at five Louisiana sites along the Mississippi River

Josh Rosenberg, The Lens

Some of the “forever chemicals” that scientists have linked to various health risks were found at five locations along the Mississippi River in Louisiana at levels well above the EPA’s most recent guidance, according to a new report.

Coastal Desk

Louisiana ranks 4th in the nation for industrial water pollution, new report says

Halle Parker

Louisiana allows more toxic chemicals to enter its waterways than most of the country, landing among the top-five states in a new analysis from three national environmental advocacy groups.

The bank of the Mississippi River north of Baton Rouge is dotted with petrochemical plants, oil refineries and paper mills. The concentration of industries in this area have earned an infamous moniker — “cancer alley” — but they are also using a disproportionate share of what could be a dwindling supply of fresh groundwater, experts say.

Coastal Desk

In Ongoing Fight To Protect Baton Rouge Water, House Committee Fights Ethics Charges

Tegan Wendland

State Senator Bodi White has proposed an exemption of state ethics rules for the beleaguered Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission.

Coastal Desk

The Mississippi River Is Getting Saltier

Travis Lux

A new study shows waterways across the country are getting saltier — including the Mississippi River. That has implications for the ecosystem and for…

Coastal Desk

EPA awards $17M grant to La. for water systems

The Associated Press

Louisiana is receiving a $17 million federal grant for improvements to public drinking water systems.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced…

Water gets churned up at the end of a dredging pipeline connected to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tenn., on Monday. The river has seen water levels from Illinois to Louisiana plummet because of drought conditions in the past three months. When there's less flow coming downstream, saltwater from the Gulf wedges its way in.

Coastal Desk

Saltwater Invades Mississippi River

Debbie Elliott

All the dry weather means there's less water flowing through the once mighty river into the Gulf of Mexico, and low outflow means saltwater from the Gulf is creeping in. Some Louisiana cities have already begun purchasing drinking water, and now New Orleans is at risk.

News

Jindal declares emergency as salt water approaches

Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency for Plaquemines Parish as it deals with encroaching salt water that's threatening drinking water in…