NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

October 26, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTS TEMPORARY FLEXIBLE WATERLINE SYSTEM TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF SALTWATER INTRUSION

JEFFERSON, LA – Jefferson Parish successfully completed installation and testing of its West Bank flexible waterline system. Although saltwater entering the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico is no longer forecast to reach Jefferson Parish’s three water intakes and threaten the drinking water supply, parish officials continued construction of a scaled-back system as a precautionary mitigation measure.

“I’m so proud of my team on all their hard work on our flexible waterline system over the past month,” said Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng. “Directors and staff from various Jefferson Parish departments, including Public Works, Engineering, Water, Drainage, Streets and Capital Projects, have been working together on innovative mitigation measures in response to the saltwater intrusion and have delivered in a timely manner. While the latest forecast from the Corps is favorable for our parish, we want to always be prepared to provide fresh water to Jefferson Parish residents in worst-case scenarios.”

Due to the ongoing drought, saltwater entering the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico threatened drinking water for more than 1 million people in the Greater New Orleans area. The Corps’ original Forecast Saltwater Progression Timeline projected the surface water quality to exceed the Environmental Protection Agency standard of 250 parts per million at the Gretna intake by October 24, 2023, the West Jefferson intake by October 25, 2023 and the East Jefferson intake by October 29, 2023. In preparation for the potential impacts, Jefferson Parish officials have been working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and regional partners to closely monitor this situation.

The Jefferson Parish Public Works Department and Water Department developed amulti-pronged plan of action, which resulted in the construction of a 15-mile flexible waterline system on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish that will allow fresh water to be pumped in from a location slightly upriver of Kenner. Construction on the flexible waterline system began on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 and was completed on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The completed system begins at the intake of the West Bank Water Treatment Plant, which produces 30 million gallons of water a day. The system consists of eight, 12-inch diameter flexible lay-flat pipes with four high-velocity diesel pumps every 3.5 miles for the first seven miles. The remaining eight miles is a partial system for testing consisting of two, 12-inch lay-flats with one pump every 4miles. If the Corps’ forecast changes for the worse, Jefferson Parish is prepared to install the complete system for the final eight miles. 

The Jefferson Parish Public Works team chose this system of lay-flats because they’re more nimble than other materials and can accommodate obstacles along the batture. At this time, Jefferson Parish continues to survey land and obtain necessary permits and permissions for a similar East Bank waterline system, but does not anticipate having to deploy it due to the Corps’ updated timeline and forecast along with the position of the East Jefferson intake, which is 6.3 miles upriver of the West Jefferson intake. However, if circumstances change, parish officials are prepared to begin construction on the 10-mile system starting at the East Bank Water Treatment Plant intake, which produces 40 million gallons of water a day.

Jefferson Parish has its own Water Laboratory that daily monitors the level of chloride in raw water as it is pulled from the river and treated water as it is distributed to the residents. The chloride level is a parameter used to measure the salinity of the water (salt in the water). Currently, the Chloride levels in Jefferson Parish are normal water levels that are safe to drink. The Louisiana Department of Health, in conjunction with the Jefferson Parish Water Department, will issue a public advisory if chloride levels rise above the drinking water standard of 250 parts per million.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed by visiting www.jeffparish.net/saltwater or www.gohsep.la.gov/saltwater.  For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on social media (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO