Is Jackson, Mississippi Water Safe to Drink? The City Is Facing Another Water Crisis
Published Aug. 30 2022, 4:36 p.m. ET
A water and food distribution drive on March 7, 2021 in Jackson, Miss. People in parts of Jackson, Miss. where 80 percent of residents are Black, had been without running water for weeks, after the city was hit by back-to-back winter storms.
The capital of Mississippi has declared a state of emergency, as heavy rainfall and floods have left the city without sufficient access to safe water. Hundreds of thousands of residents are affected by this, leaving many wondering: Is Jackson, MS water safe to drink?
Keep reading for all the details on the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, what caused it, why it is part of systemic environmental racism, and how you can help.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba addresses the city’s 2021 water crisis at a press conference on March 8, 2021 in Jackson, Miss.
What caused the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis?
Over the weekend, heavy rains drenched the Jackson area and flooded parts of the Pearl River, which runs through both Mississippi and Louisiana.
The climate crisis and global warming have caused an uptick in heavy rains and floods in recent decades; that’s because the greenhouse effect warms the atmosphere, enabling the atmosphere to hold more water vapor, which causes worse rains, and therefore floods, according to NPR.
By Monday, the overflowing river had flooded various nearby streets, as well as one home in Jackson, AP News reported. Most notably, the waters flooded the O.B. Curtis Water Plant, leading to significant water pressure issues. These issues at the plant are causing many people in Jackson to experience very low water pressure, or no running water at all, according to the city.
On Monday, Jackson’s Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves both declared a citywide water system emergency in Jackson.
According to Gov. Reeves, about 180,000 people are potentially affected by the issue, via CNN. And on Monday, the city stated that the water shortage will probably go on for “the next couple of days.”
Notably, this is not the first water crisis Jackson has faced — just last year, the city was without running water for several weeks, also as a result of the city's aging, fragile infrastructure. About 82 percent of Jackson residents are Black, highlighting how these water crises are issues of environmental justice. It is imperative that governments make their infrastructure more resilient as the climate crisis deepens — otherwise, this will be far from the last water crisis.
So as Jackson locals wait for water to return to normal, what should they do?
Is Jackson, MS water safe to drink?
As of publication on the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 30, any running water in Jackson, Miss. is not safe to drink as-is.
"Please stay safe. Do not drink the water. In too many cases, it is raw water from the reservoir being pushed through the pipes," Gov. Reeves stated on Monday when addressing Jackson residents, as per CNN. "Be smart, protect yourself, protect your family."
On Tuesday, the City of Jackson’s website stated that the city is still under a boil water notice (which had been in effect before this week's floods), though the advice is only precautionary. “This notice does not mean that your water is unsafe, but it does mean you must take precaution and boil your water before use,” the website stated in a message to Jackson locals.
The city is advising customers to bring water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for pretty much anything, including consumption, cooking or baking, making ice cubes, feeding pets, washing dishes, and brushing teeth.
Dr. Daniel Edney, a Missouri State Health Officer, advised Jackson residents to boil water for three minutes before use rather than just one minute to be safe, according to Mississippi Today.
Jackson, Miss. water distribution sites:
In response to the water crisis, Jackson is passing out free cases of bottled water as well as tankers of non-potable water, which is not for consumption, but for things like flushing toilets and cleaning.
How to help Jackson, Mississippi:
If you would like to make a donation to help Jackson residents in need of safe water during the city’s crisis, there are a few organizations accepting donations.
The City of Jackson recommends directly donating to the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition’s Water Fund. And, if you are local to the area, you can reach out to rapidresponse@peoplesadvocacyinstitute.com about volunteer opportunities.
Additionally, Relevant Magazine rounded up a few local charities accepting donations; for example, Mississippi Food Network and Immigrant Alliance For Justice And Equity are both providing free bottled water to residents.
