Saltwater Intrusion in New Orleans Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Other Coastal Cities

Over the last several weeks, residents of New Orleans braced for a potential water crisis due to a significant saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River. Fortunately, the most recent updates suggest New Orleans will avoid a drinking water crisis for now.

However, the fact that this coastal city has narrowly escaped two saltwater intrusion incidents in two years should serve as a wake-up call to fix an antiquated lead pipe system that provides water to over 1.2 million residents.

What Causes a Saltwater Intrusion?

The southern portion of the United States continues to deal with severe drought conditions. Unfortunately, the lack of rain has significantly lowered water levels in the Mississippi River.

A saltwater intrusion occurs when a river's water levels fall to a point where it can no longer keep the saltwater at bay. As the saltwater flows up the Mississippi River, it slowly contaminates each water treatment plant, making the water undrinkable and leading to a crisis that could affect millions of people.

Unfortunately, these coastal cities are at the most risk from saltwater intrusion, and climate change may partially be to blame. As sea surface temperatures heat up worldwide, rising sea levels, drought and increased demand will continue to strain access to clean water.

In addition, the higher salt levels of surface and groundwater will worsen if government officials fail to take precautionary measures soon.

Fortunately, in this case, recent forecasts show that most water intakes will escape contamination for now. However, saltwater intrusion will likely become more common over the next several years.

This is the second time New Orleans has dealt with these issues in the last two years, and as long as the drought and climate change crises continue, it will likely not be the last.

Long-Term Toxic Threat in New Orleans Worsened by Several Factors

A saltwater intrusion is catastrophic enough for a city the size of New Orleans. However, this threat is made much worse by many factors. Lead water pipes connect most of New Orleans' massive water system, and an influx of saltwater can cause significant damage.

This damage can lead to extensive corrosion, which may cause heavy metals to seep into the city's drinking water.

Lead poisoning seriously threatens the health and safety of those who drink water from lead pipes. There is no safe level of lead exposure for humans. Unfortunately, infants and children are most susceptible to the damage lead can cause. Long-term risks of lead exposure during childhood include permanent intellectual disabilities and behavioral disorders.

In addition, higher levels of exposure can cause coma and death. Adults exposed to high levels of lead are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, brain and kidney damage, as well as increased risk of infertility.

Fortunately, it seems as though New Orleans' saltwater intrusion crisis has been averted for now.

The Challenges of Removing Lead Pipes in New Orleans

Officials in New Orleans are now beginning the necessary process of replacing every lead pipe within the city's water distribution system.

A 2021 bipartisan infrastructure deal requires the removal of lead pipes from the nation's drinking water systems and replacing them with upgraded, non-hazardous pipes. The current administration is allocating $15 billion to facilitate this process in dozens of American cities.

New Orleans faces a particularly unique challenge, especially since the city installed most of the main water pipes between 1900 and 1920. Lead was the preferred metal for water pipes during this time frame since it was inexpensive, malleable and easy to find.

Poor record-keeping practices make it even more challenging to locate each lead pipe. Most records are typed or handwritten on index cards in pencil or ink. Now, for the city of New Orleans, it's a race against time to comply with the new federal guidelines.

Why Residents in California Should Be Concerned

Although the water issues plaguing New Orleans are thousands of miles away from Los Angeles, residents there may also want to monitor the issue. Initially, it seems that there are few similarities between these two cities.

After all, Los Angeles has a semi-arid climate and averages less than 15 inches of rain a year, while New Orleans receives over 62 inches and sits near a major waterway.

One similarity between the two cities is that both receive water from deltas. A delta is an interface where fresh river water meets salty bay water. The difference between them is that water from the Sacramento River bound for Los Angeles funnels through a pump system into the aqueduct.

If the flow decreases due to drought or agricultural reasons, the pumps switch off so that there is little risk of bay water infiltrating Los Angeles' water supply.

While New Orleans does not have the advantages of a pump system, shutting it off can still pose significant problems for Californians. When the pumps shut down, residents who depend on delta water further downstream cannot receive any at all and must rely on other water sources instead.

California lawmakers are proposing a solution to this water flow issue. Their proposal could lead to the creation of a bypass that would take the water from the Sacramento River into the aqueduct without flowing through the delta. This aqueduct would also fix the water issues for those who live further downstream.

However, doing this would cause the delta water levels to decrease even more, creating a situation where the salty San Francisco Bay water would eventually make its way up the delta, much like the situation occurring in New Orleans.

A Looming Crisis for Other Coastal Cities

While the need for fresh, clean drinking water is essential in both Los Angeles and New Orleans, it's important to think about what's at stake. Whether the flow decreases due to the creation of an aqueduct or drought conditions, it becomes even easier for saltwater to contaminate the drinking water supply and jeopardize the surrounding ecosystem.

As lawmakers in both Los Angeles and New Orleans look for a sustainable solution to their water woes, it's only a matter of time before other coastal cities face the same dilemma.

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