The Silent Killer: How Saltwater Intrusion Could Devastate New Orleans

Imagine the terrifying prospect of a colossal surge of saltwater making its way up the Mississippi River, gradually polluting the water supply of treatment plants and endangering the well-being of countless residents. This nightmare scenario is particularly looming over New Orleans, given that authorities estimate the presence of tens of thousands of lead pipes within the city's water infrastructure.

New Orleans is not the sole city in the US with lead pipes. However, in recent weeks, it has been confronted with the looming threat of saltwater causing corrosion in these pipes, potentially leading to the release of toxic metals into the drinking water supply.

To avert this crisis, a massive and expensive undertaking is underway, aiming to prevent such corrosion. Despite notable improvements in the situation, the Army Corps of Engineers now predicts that New Orleans will remain safe from the intrusion of saltwater.

However, this threat is not isolated. According to experts, addressing this issue in the region is crucial as the climate-induced drought on the powerful Mississippi River persists and intersects with the deteriorating underground infrastructure beneath the city's streets. The US Centers for Disease Control has warned that no level of lead exposure is safe, with even minimal quantities proving harmful.

Lead poses significant dangers to infants and children, as it has been proven to cause detrimental effects on their developing brain, nervous system, and overall health. Exposure to this metal is associated with learning disabilities, as well as an increased vulnerability to heart and kidney diseases. It is crucial to note that the complete extent of the damage caused by lead exposure may not become apparent until years later in a child's life.

US Army Corps of Engineers employ dredges and pipes to transport silt to an underwater sill positioned at the base of the Mississippi River, approximately 20 miles downstream of New Orleans. The primary purpose of the sill is to prevent the intrusion of saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico into the upstream direction.

The situation in New Orleans is further complicated by the lack of knowledge among city officials regarding the number and location of lead pipes.

This photograph captures a moment in the airspace, displaying a tugboat effortlessly maneuvering its way through the Mississippi River, specifically between Baton Rouge, La., and Reserve, La., in Livingston Parish, La., on Thursday, September 14, 2023. This scene takes place during a period of low water levels, where the tugboat efficiently navigates around a sandbar. The credit for this visually captivating image goes to Gerald Herbert from the Associated Press.

Gerald Herbert/AP

The Mississippi River has dropped to a historic low for the second consecutive year

Jessica Dandridge, executive director of the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, highlighted the lack of awareness among residents regarding the presence of lead pipes in their drinking water. Dandridge's organization, in collaboration with BlueConduits and other local partners, focuses on addressing water quality concerns related to lead pipes and managing stormwater and flood control. The saltwater wedge phenomenon has served as a wake-up call for the community, prompting them to realize the potential health risks associated with lead contamination.

The stakes are high for New Orleans and other cities as they hurry to meet new federal regulations aimed at eliminating lead pipes from the nation's drinking water system. Additionally, the bipartisan infrastructure law has allocated $15 billion in federal funds for the initial removal of this hazardous material from numerous city drinking water systems.

According to Danielle Land, a public health research associate and lead pipe specialist at Michigan State University, lead was widely used due to its incredible usefulness. However, the challenge lies in the lack of financial resources available for the comprehensive removal of lead from various sources.

A toxic threat

The use of lead in water infrastructure was widespread for many years due to its malleability, abundance, and comparatively lower susceptibility to corrosion when compared to other metals. This was particularly prominent in the early 20th century and also during the housing construction boom of the 1940s and 1950s.

Lead drinking pipes are pervasive throughout the nation, with approximately 9.2 million estimated in total, according to some national projections.

"The earlier an individual is exposed to lead, the more detrimental it becomes," Land stated. "When infants are provided with formula mixed with tap water containing lead, their bodies have reduced ability to combat and withstand the adverse impacts of lead."

In late September, Ashara Feloss relied on bottled water for culinary purposes when preparing meals at DJ's One Stop, a lunch spot located in Plaquemines Parish. The water in this region had acquired a salty taste since early summer, until the Army Corps intervened by transporting freshwater there in early October.

Other factors that exacerbate the situation include the duration of exposure and the severity of lead contamination. However, families can take preventive measures to protect their children from lead exposure, such as prioritizing proper nutrition and ensuring an adequate intake of calcium, iron, and vitamin C, emphasized Land.

Dandridge mentioned that her organization is actively monitoring cases of lead poisoning in New Orleans, particularly due to the lack of knowledge among residents regarding the presence of lead lines. She highlighted that in addition to saltwater, the risk of lead exposure increases during street construction, which has been quite common since Hurricane Katrina. Dandridge explained that road repairs can unintentionally disrupt the corrosion control measures implemented by the city's Sewerage and Water Board.

"There are several people we know who have lead poisoning," Dandridge said. "Once you have lead poisoning, that is your life."

A century-old mystery posing modern risks

New Orleans and other cities are in a race to map their lead pipes, thanks to the allocation of billions of dollars by the Biden administration to support the removal of this hazardous infrastructure.

In New Orleans, this endeavor involves a meticulous combination of water testing and extensive excavation of archival records.

"It's like being a sleuth or detective, attempting to uncover the location and destination of the pipes," stated JP Morrell, a New Orleans City Councilmember, in an interview with CNN. "While we have made progress in upgrading our significant infrastructure, it is not yet universally implemented."

New Orleans, a city with a history of 305 years, has conducted a thorough analysis of its water pipes, revealing that a majority of them were installed during the years spanning from 1900 to 1919, a time when lead was commonly used. Additionally, some pipes are constructed from clay or iron, with the possibility of lead soldering at the joints.

"During the 1800s, the documentation of lead pipe installation was severely lacking, and the majority of subsequent records were poorly maintained on note cards," stated Adrienne Katner, an environmental and occupational health professor at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

Army Corp vessels move silt through pipes to build up the sill.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Piecing together records involves both filling in the missing information in the system and deciphering various types of notes, ranging from handwritten to typewritten, that may lack important details about a pipe's composition. BlueConduit researchers have been utilizing AI technology for months to analyze these records.

"We have come across records from New Orleans that are more than a century old; just today, we were examining a scanned index card," said Schwartz, co-founder of BlueConduit, in an interview with CNN. "These records comprise typewritten text, as well as pencil and pen markings, making it quite challenging to comprehend and extract meaningful information from them."

PRODUCTION - September 07, 2023, Tettnang, Baden-Württemberg: A drone captures the sight of a tractor maneuvering through hop farmer Ludwig Locher's hop field. The tractor works to separate the hops, allowing them to conveniently land in the trailer for transportation. Photo credit: Felix Kästle/dpa (Photo by Felix Kästle/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Felix Kästle/picture alliance/Getty Images

The climate crisis is coming for your hoppy beer

Grace Birch, a spokesperson for the city's Sewerage & Water Board, stated that the "painstaking" inventory is expected to be finished by October of the following year, meeting the federal requirement to submit digital mapping of the city's lead pipes. However, the city's efforts to eliminate all lead pipes from its water mains are not enough, as there is an additional concern about replacing smaller pipes on private properties that lead into homes. This task could pose an even more intricate and expensive obstacle.

Land stated that it will likely take several decades to fulfill the Biden administration's objective of eliminating lead pipes from the drinking water infrastructure in America. However, the provision of federal funding is seen as a positive step forward. "This is a promising development and a step in the right direction as it unifies our policymakers and government officials towards a common objective," Land expressed. "Although it may not be sufficient, it is a beginning."

A bicyclist rides past a screen airing a news channel showing a weather segment forecasting an upcoming heat wave on Aug. 22, 2023, at Daley Plaza in Chicago.

John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/AP

The Midwest US could be a hotspot for deadly 'moist heat stress' as global temperatures climb

The saltwater permeating the Mississippi River in New Orleans is a clear demonstration of the intersection between climate change and the deteriorating infrastructure in American cities, according to Jeffrey Thomas, a local attorney who previously chaired a task force focused on identifying weaknesses in the city's water system. Thomas emphasized that this scenario exemplifies how climate change can worsen existing physical, social, and economic vulnerabilities in any urban environment, especially those prone to extreme weather events like New Orleans.

Dandridge, the community organizer in New Orleans, informed CNN about the frequent apathy she faces from local residents who doubt the government's ability or willingness to promptly address the issue.

"There is a constant crisis, and people in Louisiana are fatigued," said Dandridge. "However, we find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Dealing with climate change is already challenging, and it becomes even more difficult when the government does not prioritize the proactive well-being of its citizens."