Waldo JaquithSep 29, 2023

Midwestern droughts have reduced the flow of the Mississippi. Groundwater depletion has caused coastal land to sink below sea level. Sea-temperature increases raised the sea level in the Gulf. The result: rising ocean waters are out-competing the Mississippi flow, pushing up the riverbed, and will reach New Orleans’ water treatment plant. The city’s water supply will be undrinkable, while the salt leaches poisons out of lead pipes. They have one month.

We did this. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/29/climate/new-orleans-saltwater-map.html?unlocked_article_code=YY1Ts4O8PDO2TJgPZYi6Tldxm_uNeKHVvgkg4EgPZmqT4AIKqK7EMYfP3LFe8RlVhSfU8mpQK75rHcnO2Ox59Lh05bgzthiJxc73KZqvQ9bJmSIMPEWOxFuAtwqukSYV0BfzL9JQrhrd6XcwQTCudtCWFwvxKfcjU1ZqEaNS9S_71QVaQ1zkdCsp7W5wZgXlJs-fyw_ZrF8HZUbLGsUL_bV8eWANJDBKOhZu4adbPjbyrVfrF91XtjEPjBABQPHd4eQGKOm-l5i2jam7pF6XnLOGPKcq3Pr7dA81OEbDs-L4o533ERGdU2XtTXAKVqULiIxb2gm94xFRCud-sCrTwfRtD6OmhBWVyHYvvoRTBWmtUA&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Map: When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans?

The drought-stricken Mississippi River can no longer hold back the saltwater creeping upstream, contaminating drinking water.

The New York Times
Show threadSteven BarnhartSep 29, 2023
@waldoj it’s not great but also there is work being done to fix it. Why are you being alarmist and not mentioning this happened before in 1988? Or the plans to mitigate? https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/saltwater-intrusion/construction-of-10-to-12-mile-pipeline-could-curb-saltwater-intrusions-impact-on-new-orleans/289-2b4024d1-63e8-467c-81b4-55cea17670e0
Show threadViolet Madder

@StevenBarnhart @waldoj So it happened before once, that means it's normal so it's fine?

Really? That's your argument?

While sea level keeps rising and ground water keeps subsiding, it's going to get worse.

When exactly is it time to be alarmed, anyway?

Sep 29, 2023 at 11:19pmWeb
Show threadSteven BarnhartSep 29, 2023
@violetmadder @waldoj I’m against the lack of mentioning any of that. The article makes it seem like something we’ve never seen before and is written to induce panic. Then, people will learn and assume every article on climate change effects is fear mongering.
Show threadWaldo JaquithSep 29, 2023
@StevenBarnhart @violetmadder Cool next time I’ll jam that context into the remaining 8 characters in my post
Show threadViolet MadderSep 29, 2023
@StevenBarnhart @waldoj Stinks like Pier 39 in here.