Louisiana Governor Requests Federal Emergency Declaration for Saltwater Intrusion

Communities along the Mississippi River have been relying on bottled water for drinking and cooking for months.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks about the investigation into the death of Ronald Greene in Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 1, 2022. Matthew Hinton/AP Photo

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has urged President Joe Biden to help address the saltwater intrusion in the lower Mississippi River region, with his office submitting a request for a Federal Emergency Declaration on Sept. 25.

In a press release Monday, the Democrat governor said he was optimistic the president would approve the emergency declaration, which he said would be crucial to help communities affected by the crisis who have relied on bottled water for drinking and cooking for months.