UPDATE AS OF September 18, 2024
Hurricane Francine has moved on, but Plaquemines Parish is still facing the ongoing challenge of saltwater intrusion. President Hinkley assures residents in the southern part of the parish that mitigation efforts are maintaining a supply of clean drinking water despite the intrusion. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has begun constructing an underwater barrier sill to stop the saltwater from advancing further up the Mississippi River. The sill is expected to be fully installed by September 30th.
https://wgno.com/saltwater-intrusion/u-s-army-corps-of-engineers-begins-construction-on-new-saltwater-sill-in-mississippi-river/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFX1RRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHassHDTWqmTFBOX6xSdN3hMaQsXnSpYXIFHAshHUZ9iHjrPOJ451qBX9Iw_aem_z5kmj5xnhAaG1JHBld-mlA
UPDATE AS OF AUGUST 26, 2024
Saltwater Intrusion
The administration, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), and local agencies, is closely monitoring the ongoing saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River. Weekly meetings are being held to ensure that all necessary steps are being taken to prepare for this recurring event. Thanks to last year’s permanent solutions for combating saltwater intrusion, the parish is better prepared for such challenges.
All water treatment plants in the parish are currently providing water with chloride levels well below the threshold (250 mg/l) that would require a drinking water advisory. Chloride levels rise during saltwater intrusion when the flow of freshwater from the Mississippi River decreases, allowing denser saltwater from the Gulf to move upstream. While moderate levels of chloride in water are generally not harmful to most people, high levels can affect the taste of water, pose risks to sensitive individuals, and lead to infrastructure damage. Proactive measures are being taken to minimize the impact on the community. This week, reverse osmosis systems are being installed at the Boothville Water Treatment Plant to further protect residents and businesses. Installations at Port Sulphur and Pointe à la Hache will follow late this week and into next. All reverse osmosis machines are expected to be installed and operational by September 13, 2024.
As updates become available, they will be shared on all parish social media channels and website. Please share these updates with others in your community to keep everyone informed.
The administration is committed to keeping the parish's water safe and will continue to monitor the situation closely.