COLUMBIA, S.C. — Out west cities are dealing with extreme drought and low water levels. The Mississippi River is nearing record lows in multiple states.
The reduction of water flow is expected to cause major issues in the New Orleans area. The lack of fresh water is allowing for a process called salt water intrusion. Salt water is heavier than fresh water so when flow reduces the Gulf of Mexico begins to travel upstream on the relatively flat Mississippi.
This might not seem like a huge issue until you realize that New Orleans draws its drinking water from the river.
The salt water is expected to travel upstream impacting multiple parishes in the New Orleans metro along the way.
How did we get to this point? The Summer pattern that brought us cooler weather brought all-time record-breaking summer heat to the Central US.
This set the stage for drought which was almost nonexistent along the entire river back in the Spring which now is crippling the region.
Just like in Louisiana, the Midlands draws its water from our rivers. Columbia specifically pulls from the Broad River and Lake Murray but, weather can play a role in how much water we see in these sources.
Drought can occur in South Carolina like in 2015, 2006, and 2007, and the biggest drought in our history in 1954.
While this can lower some local stream and river levels, the immense reservoir of Lake Murray holds enough water that even in our driest years drinking water would likely not be impacted.
