Plaquemines May Sse Barges To Ship Freshwater

BELLE CHASSE, La. (AP) — Plaquemines Parish officials say they're prepared to use barges to supply fresh water to processing plants in Port Sulphur, Dalcour and Pointe-a-la-Hache if necessary.

The parish gets its water from the Mississippi River, but that source of water is being threatened by the intrusion of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico due to low river levels.

Besides using barges to ship in fresh water, the parish says it may rely on freshwater piped in from neighboring parishes.

Meanwhile, the Army Corps of Engineers is expected to begin building an underwater sill in the Mississippi to stop the advance of salt water from reaching Belle Chasse and New Orleans. Work on the sill should begin next week.