Bourgeois to lead Metro Council discussion on saltwater intrusion

Metro Councilman R.J. “Smokie” Bourgeois will lead a discussion with Metro Council members Wednesday on the problem of saltwater intrusion into the freshwater aquifer under the parish. Bourgeois says a report generated by Hays Town, son of noted Louisiana architect A. Hays Town, has piqued his interest and he wants to share it with the council to begin a dialogue aimed at addressing the problem of depleting freshwater aquifers. “I’m just trying to bring some attention to it,” Bourgeois says “It seems like a good time to take a look at where we’re at. Mr. Town has spent a lot of time on this, and it’s a pretty darn good report he’s got.” Along with the problem of suspected saltwater intrusion, Bourgeois says, Baton Rouge’s aquifer reserves have long been drained for industrial use by area plants. “We’ve got one plant using about as much water as the entire city of Baton Rouge,” he says. “It would be nice if we could encourage them to put in some pumping systems to use river water instead of the same water that comes out of our faucets.” Read a 2009 Business Report story on Baton Rouge’s freshwater aquifers here —Steve Sanoski