Jackson, Mississippi residents, face a dire situation after the city’s main water treatment facility failed on Monday.
Governor Tate Reeves has declared a state of emergency for the city of Jackson. During a briefing, Reeves confirmed that the state’s capital and the largest city would be without “reliable running water” for the foreseeable future. There is not enough water to flush toilets or put out fires.
Reeves issued a stern warning to residents, urging them to steer clear of the water.
“Do not drink the water. In too many cases, it is raw water from the reservoir being pushed through the pipes. Be smart, protect yourself, protect your family,” he stated.
The O.B. Curtis water treatment plant has been at risk of complete failure for years, with aging infrastructure and inadequate resources making it a ticking time bomb. Jackson residents have been under a boil-water notice since last month when the water was discovered to be cloudy during tests. In addition, recent rainfall and heavy flooding have only exacerbated the problems plaguing the plant. Unfortunately, this week, water pressure was minimal, and officials warned that the tap water was untreated.
With the state of emergency issued, the National Guard has been deployed. They have already distributed drinking and non-drinking water to nearly 180,000 residents and will continue to do so until the water supply can be restored. Though, that could take at least a few days. Residents still in need of water may visit their local fire stations in Jackson.
In light of the water shortage, Jackson Public Schools announced Monday that they’d be switching to virtual learning, while Jackson State University announced remote classes. Those affected from the University’s football team have been relocated to ensure they have “the necessities of life” until the crisis is resolved.
“We [were] hit with a little crisis in the city of Jackson,” Coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday. “We don’t have water. Water means we don’t have air conditioning; we can’t use toilets; we don’t have water; therefore, we don’t have ice, which pretty much places a burden on the program. So right now, we’re operating in crisis mode.”
Water had begun being delivered to students and faculty on Tuesday.
The Mississippi State Department of Health is working diligently with Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and city operators to get the plant back up and running. Lumumba has disagreed with Reeves on the severity of the situation, claiming that the water pressure had seen overnight improvements.
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