The proposed Byhalia Pipeline, which would carry crude oil from a refinery in Memphis to a plant in North Mississippi, is seen by environmentalists as a potential threat to Memphis' drinking water. Its course would run over an area where the Memphis Sand Aquifer is vulnerable to contamination.
The group Protect Our Aquifer, now led by Executive Director Sarah Houston, argues that pipelines can leak. And if chemicals filter down into the aquifer, the damage could be catastrophic and permanent.
Houston joins this week’s WKNO-TV Behind the Headlines with host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. She discusses threats to the local aquifer and steps being taken to avoid any pollution or harm to it.
In addition, Houston talks about studies and programs aimed at better understanding the aquifer, as well as some newly discovered findings.