Army Engineers to Barge 36 Million Gallons of Freshwater a Day As Saltwater Creeps up The Mississippi River

The Messenger - As seawater threatens to compromise Louisiana’s drinking supply, the Army Corps of Engineers is planning to barge millions of gallons of freshwater into the southern Mississippi River, after the Governor warned against panic buying.The plan was developed in response to saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River – which historically provided a source of freshwater across the state. After two years of extreme heat and limited rainfall, however, the Gulf of Mexico is pushing into water systems, CNN reports.Officials are now warning that a “saltwater wedge” will arrive in New Orleans water treatment facilities by next month – potentially corroding pipes and damaging the water supply in the process. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an emergency declaration on September 22, in response to the situation.