President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards' request for a federal emergency declaration to supplement efforts to mitigate saltwater intrusion moving up the Mississippi River.
The declaration allows the federal Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to coordinate relief efforts with state and local officials.
"That unlocks the necessary resources for the city, our region, and our state to be more proactive," said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, "in regards to viable solutions that have been identified and that we will continue to move forward."
Meanwhile, New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Collin Arnold reassured the New Orleans City Council, and the public, that "we are not in a doomsday situation, by any means."
While smaller water treatment systems, like Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, Algiers, Gretna, West Jefferson, and Westwego, can be provided fresh water by barge, the east bank treatment plants for both New Orleans and Jefferson are too large for water barges to be sufficient. Arnold says the Sewerage and Water Board and Jefferson Parish Water Department are exploring a temporary pipeline to bring fresh water from upriver down to the two plants.
The salt wedge could reach the SWBNOLA Carrollton plant by October 28, and be at the East Jefferson treatment plant a day later.
