Residents of Mississippi's capital city of Jackson are without useable water, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency.
The water crisis follows a number of similar issues the city has faced over the past several years, with many pointing to the need for updated infrastructure. However, many have questioned what led to the recent crisis that has left the city's residents with little or no usable water.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba declared a "water system emergency" this week, citing issues at the city's O.B. Curtis Water Plant that stemmed from flooding of the Pearl River. The issues at the plant caused "low or no water pressure for many Jackson customers," the mayor's office said, adding that the "water shortage is likely to last the next couple of days."
During a press conference on Monday, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves addressed the current water crisis and explained that last week, he was briefed by the state's health department "on the discovery that Jackson's main water treatment facility has been operating with zero redundancies.
"The main pumps had recently been damaged severely, about the same time as the prolonged boil water notice began and the facility was now operating on smaller backup pumps. The city government was unable to give them a timeline for when the facility would be back in proper operating condition."
Jackson has been under a boil water notice for the past month, with the Mississippi Department of Health citing "high turbidity levels" in the water.
On Tuesday, Reeves' office declared a state of emergency due to failures at the plant following flooding from the river.
"The total or near total loss of water pressure throughout the City of Jackson and surrounding areas of Hinds County that receive water from the plant has created a condition of disaster and extreme peril to the safety of persons and property," the governor's office said in a statement.
"Current pressure issues mean that the city is unable to produce enough water to flush toilets, fight fires, and meet other critical needs."
In response to the crisis, Reeves activated the state's National Guard to help distribute bottled water to residents. Officials in the state have also continued to caution residents.
"Do not drink the water," Reeves said on Tuesday.
Mississippi State Department of Health Deputy Director for the Office of Health Protection Jim Craig made similar remarks, urging residents to not open their mouths while in the shower. Craig said it is safe to use the city's water to shower but noted that before consuming the water, residents must boil it.
Newsweek reached out to Reeves' office for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
