Topline
A water crisis that has left around 150,000 people without clean drinking water in Jackson, Mississippi, shows no signs of ending anytime soon, with officials saying a boil water notice will continue at least through the weekend despite the city claiming improvements.
A sink slowly fills with water on September 1, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Brad … [+]
Key Facts
A video from a reporter in Mississippi showing dark brown water spewing from a faucet in Jackson on Friday afternoon has been viewed more than 10 million times, and discolored water has been a common complaint in Mississippi’s capital lately.
The reporter, Molly Minta, of Mississippi Today, says her landlord blamed the discoloring on the city problems, and noted it resembled “weak coffee.”
The city said in a news release Saturday that it is not sure when it will be able to start testing the water to ensure that it is clear of pathogens due to continued concerns about water pressure.
Much of Jackson was left without access to running water late last month after the main water treatment plant was knocked offline due to flooding, leading to widespread bottled water distribution efforts.
The city said Saturday that pressure has largely been restored, but it will begin full testing of the water system until it determines there has been “sustained pressure.”
What To Watch For
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General is reportedly leading a federal regulatory investigation into Jackson’s water crisis.
Key Background
Jackson has had major issues with its water for years—a history of lead in the water supply prompted a lawsuit seeking $3 billion in damages, claiming public officials were negligent. The crisis started receiving national attention following last month’s flooding but the boil water advisory has actually been in place since July 29—a month before the city lost pressure—due to turbidity, or cloudiness, in the water, which led to safety concerns. Conservative Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) has placed the blame for water problems at the feet of city officials, but progressive Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (D) said the state and federal governments “abandoned” the city, not providing the support needed to maintain the water system. Many observers claim Jackson’s crumbling water system went overlooked for too long because of the city’s demographics—it is one of the Blackest and most impoverished cities in the United States. Lumumba also says climate change is significantly exacerbating the city’s infrastructure issues.
Crucial Quote
“We’ve had hotter summers, colder winters and more precipitation each year and it’s taking a toll on our infrastructure,” Lumumba said.
Further Reading
Lead-In-Water Lawsuit: Contamination Has Hurt Black Jackson Children And Their Futures (Mississippi Free Press)
Federal watchdog is probing Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis (NBC News)
Evacuations Ordered In Mississippi Capital For Historic Flooding (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/09/10/water-crisis-continues-after-weak-coffee-stream-in-jackson-miss-goes-viral/