The US drought has reduced the level and flow of the Mississippi River to the extent that salt water is backflowing up the river. This is bad news for the communities that get their drinking water from the river.

This has happened in the past and will likely happen again but it is still an issue for those 250,000 + folks.

BTW the following was meant to reassure residents that the water is safe today...

Quote'You will stop drinking the water because it doesn't taste right, well before it becomes a danger to your health,' Dr. Joseph Kanter, State Medical Officer, said at the press conference.

The solution is to simply go up river with barges and fill them with river water and bring thos barges to the municipal water intakes. This is not difficult but obviously not cheap.

Also rain may help but it would require 10 inches of rain over the entire MS to avert the problem.

The key issue that salt will corrode metal pipes, appliances, lawns and basically anything designed not toe have salt water exposure.


 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12551561/New-Orleans-declares-state-emergency-saltwater-creeps-drought-stricken-Mississippi-river-threatens-drinking-water-nearly-900-000-residents.html

A quick update:
People are freaking out and it is difficult to find bottled water. Nevermind that the tap water in most areas is fine and thus they could simply fill up a water container with tap water.

I guess it is like the people buying out all of the toilet  paper for covid.

I am amazed by this.

https://www.drought.gov/

https://www.drought.gov/current-conditions

Quote from: Raptor on September 24, 2023, 11:28:03 PMA quick update:
People are freaking out and it is difficult to find bottled water. Nevermind that the tap water in most areas is fine and thus they could simply fill up a water container with tap water.

I guess it is like the people buying out all of the toilet  paper for covid.

I am amazed by this.

After seeing people buying months, possibly years, worth of toilet paper at one time during covid, I've become less amazed.

I guess the stores around here sell out of sidewalk salt in the wintertime, which means it becomes impossible to find table salt during the winter.

Quote from: wolf_from_wv on September 27, 2023, 09:36:08 AM

Quote from: Raptor on September 24, 2023, 11:28:03 PMA quick update:
People are freaking out and it is difficult to find bottled water. Nevermind that the tap water in most areas is fine and thus they could simply fill up a water container with tap water.

I guess it is like the people buying out all of the toilet  paper for covid.

I am amazed by this.

After seeing people buying months, possibly years, worth of toilet paper at one time during covid, I've become less amazed.

I guess the stores around here sell out of sidewalk salt in the wintertime, which means it becomes impossible to find table salt during the winter.

Good point about the TP...at least they are not panic buying toilet paper.

It is just that it is towards the end of hurricane season. Bottled water is the standard supply for hurricanes. I would have though that most residents would have had bottled water on hand.

I can never understand the bottled water and hurricanes thing. I've been thru at least 10 hurricanes [just guessing, I'm not really counting but have lived here all my life, in Jacksonville, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and now WPB AO's, and never had to boil water from a hurricane or had my water supply cut off. I don't think we got hit when I lived in Tampa though] I was in Margate for Andrew, and got hit by Wilma's eye in Boca Raton. David when I lived in Plantation. 2005-2006 I think South Florida got hit by 6 hurricanes.

That said I think the folks on Captiva may have lost city water, twice, due to hurricanes. But there weren't any people that could stay there to miss running water if it was. I don't remember it being reported either time. 2006 and last year IIRC.

I keep b/u water in gallon or 5 or 7 gallon refillable containers, my wife is into the bottled water b/u's. Which is weird 'cause she's against plastics and micro plastics ending up in the ocean. [Save the Turtles! ] Water in big jugs is just easier IMO and you can keep it for years for emergencies for just the initial cost of the jugs. And you are more likely to need b/u water due to a surprise cutoff or boil water order from main line breaks or accidents to the supply, WITH NO WARNING, anytime of year.

Plywood and gasoline, that's another story. Blue tarps. LP gas. Think I heard that Florida is now #3 or #4 for highest property and auto insurance in the nation. I feel that!

Fed declares emergency. Let the dollars flow. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-saltwater-intrusion-declared-a-federal-emergency/ar-AA1hojhm

Quote'You will stop drinking the water because it doesn't taste right, well before it becomes a danger to your health,' Dr. Joseph Kanter, State Medical Officer, said at the press conference.

Where are they living Somalia?

Quote I can never understand the bottled water and hurricanes thing. I've been thru at least 10 hurricanes [just guessing, I'm not really counting but have lived here all my life, in Jacksonville, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and now WPB AO's, and never had to boil water from a hurricane or had my water supply cut off.

Milk, bread and eggs before every snow storm.

QuoteFed declares emergency. Let the dollars flow. 

Just under the wire for the shut down. At least politics aren't in play.

It really isn't going to matter much. The South end of the state is going to be under water in the next 50 years. The only question is how much of it?