Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Donate today to give back in celebration of all that #PublicMediaGives. Your contribution will be matched $1 for $1.

Could A Cross-Country Pipeline Solve The West's Water Shortage?

Floodwaters from the Mississippi River flood Clarksville, MO in 2008. One idea for solving the West's water shortage is to pump water from the flooding Mississippi to drought-stricken areas. (eagle102.net/Flickr)
Floodwaters from the Mississippi River flood Clarksville, MO in 2008. One idea for solving the West's water shortage is to pump water from the flooding Mississippi to drought-stricken areas. (eagle102.net/Flickr)

One answer to the West’s drought problems is building a pipeline to divert excess Mississippi River floodwater out to the West. It’s been proposed, but it’s also never been built. Cost is one objection.

Pat Mulroy, former general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority has proposed an east-west water pipeline, but the idea hasn’t taken hold.

She joins Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson to discuss the idea.

Guest

  • Pat Mulroy, former general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and a senior fellow at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Brookings Mountain West.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.