NOLA emergency head: Pipeline construction to begin ‘immediately’ after contractor is selected

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is shipping fresh water on barges to small treatment plants south of Gretna, in anticipation of the saltwater wedge that’s moving up the Mississippi River.

The fresh water will be used to dilute the wedge’s briny water, as it’s pulled into the plant to be treated. The Army Corps of Engineers hopes the strategy will keep clean tap water flowing for the communities served by the plants.

But it won’t be possible to barge in enough fresh water to support larger plants in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, which go through hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day.

Both parishes have decided to build pipelines to draw fresh water from the river north of Kenner. The plans received state approval Friday, and officials are in the process of securing contractors.

Collin Arnold, New Orleans’ director of homeland security and emergency preparedness, told All Things Considered host Bob Pavlovich that bids were due Monday.

Arnold said the city’s sewerage and water board will select a contractor quickly, so pipe — 48-inch PVC — can be laid starting this week.

“They’ll be moving as fast as possible to get this started immediately,” he said.