The other end of the spectrum: Drought

Jeff Robertson / AP

To those who have been paying attention, this summer has been an example of the weather extremes that we are and will continue to experience in the face of climate change. I have mentioned in previous posts about the extreme flooding that many nations have been facing, which has imposed major health concerns on the people living in those areas. In particular, it has been affecting the less economically stable communities as they have less access to health care and other resources to help them in these times of emergency. On the other end of this spectrum of impacts of climate change, other areas of the world are facing major droughts, which is yet another way that people’s health is being threatened. One area that is facing a drought is in the Mississippi river in the United States. The Mississippi river is a major water system in the United States and over a third of rainwater in the US ends up in the Mississippi River. Drought in the Upper Mississippi basins has caused the water levels to approach record low levels. This has not only been exposing parts of the river that have never been seen before including artifacts and shipwrecks, but it is posing a risk for human health.

A large portion of the effects are being felt in Louisiana where the Mississippi river meets with the Gulf of Mexico. As the flow of the Mississippi river decreases, the point at which the fresh river water meets the salty gulf water creeps upstream. The salt water is now nearly 64 miles upstream of the river. This is threatening the drinking water for Cities such as New Orleans along with Industrial uses of freshwater in the area. According to NPR, Plaquemines Parish is the most affected area as two of their water treatment plants have been compromised. Not only are these parishes facing issues of drinking water but many of them are areas that are victims of environmental racism. Many of the parishes such as St. John the Baptist Parish are subject to very high rates of industrial pollution due to industries in the area. These have been causing increased cancer rates in areas that have majority African American populations. Clean drinking water insecurity only adds to the health impacts and violation of their rights to health that they already face. 

Citations:

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/27/1131452623/saltwater-mississippi-river-drought-gulf-of-mexico

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2022/10/photos-mississippi-river-drought-low-water/671886/