Drought-like conditions in the Midwest over the summer have created a growing water problem in the New Orleans area this fall.
Water levels of the Mississippi River have dropped low enough to make the river less resistant to a mass of saltwater flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico.
This circumstance, known as saltwater intrusion, is endangering the drinking water systems in and around the city, as well as smaller municipalities to the south.
Many water treatment facilities cannot handle water with high salinity levels, which corrode pipes and cause metals in the pipes to leach into the water.
He said he was requesting a federal emergency declaration, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans signed an emergency declaration for the city on Friday.
Persons:
Gov, John Bel Edwards, LaToya Cantrell, Edwards
Organizations:
Officials, U.S . Army Corps, Engineers
Locations:
Midwest, New Orleans, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana