Jackson, Mississippi’s water system has been one of the most troubled in the United States for over a decade. The crisis reached a breaking point in August 2022 when Pearl River flooding knocked out the city’s main water treatment plant, leaving roughly 150,000 residents without safe drinking water. But the problems started long before that — and they aren’t fully resolved yet.
What Happened in 2022
In late August 2022, severe storms caused the Pearl River to flood. The O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant — Jackson’s largest facility — was already running on backup pumps due to equipment failures from the previous month. When floodwaters overwhelmed the plant, it stopped treating drinking water entirely.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency. President Biden followed with a federal disaster declaration to trigger aid. The National Guard distributed bottled water as the city scrambled to restore service.
On October 31, 2022, the EPA declared the water safe to drink again. The state of emergency was formally withdrawn on November 22. But the underlying infrastructure problems that caused the collapse remained.
A System in Decline for Years
Jackson’s water troubles didn’t start with the 2022 flood. The system had been deteriorating for decades:
- 2010: A winter storm caused widespread water main breaks and outages across the city.
- 2012: Jackson failed an EPA inspection under the Safe Drinking Water Act, resulting in a settlement requiring maintenance improvements.
- February 2021: Another winter storm shut down the O.B. Curtis plant, leaving residents without water for a month. The city asked the state for $47 million for sewer repairs but received just $3 million.
- July 2022: Damage to the Curtis plant forced a switch to backup pumps. A boil water advisory was issued on July 28 — and was still active when the August floods hit.
Between 2017 and 2021, Jackson averaged 55 water main breaks per 100 miles of pipe annually. The EPA considers 15 breaks or fewer per 100 miles the safe threshold.
The Financial Picture
A July 2022 EPA report documented severe problems at the utility: chronic understaffing, high employee turnover, malfunctioning water meters, and an inability to properly bill all customers. City officials estimated that 50% of the water supplied generated no revenue — lost to leaks or faulty metering.
By the time of the crisis, Jackson carried approximately $191 million in outstanding revenue bond debt for its water utility, and the bonds had been downgraded to junk status.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba estimated the full cost of repairing the water system at $2 billion.
Federal Intervention
In December 2022, Congress approved $600 million in disaster relief funding that included support for Jackson’s water system. The EPA also allocated $429.9 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to Mississippi for water infrastructure improvements.
The EPA and city agreed on a repair plan in 2021, but implementation has been slow. The system requires massive investment in pipe replacement, treatment plant upgrades, and meter infrastructure — far more than available funding covers.
What’s in Jackson’s Water?
Jackson’s water problems have been primarily about infrastructure failures — loss of water pressure, treatment disruptions, and boil advisories — rather than specific chemical contamination. However, when treatment systems fail or pressure drops, the risks include:
- Bacterial contamination from inadequate chlorination or pressure loss
- Sediment and turbidity from aging pipes and main breaks
- Lead exposure from older service connections, particularly in homes built before 1986
The city has issued numerous boil water advisories over the past several years, sometimes lasting weeks at a time.
What Jackson Residents Can Do
If you live in Jackson or surrounding areas served by the city’s water system:
- Follow boil water advisories. When issued, bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth.
- Test your water. Mississippi’s State Department of Health can direct residents to certified testing laboratories. Testing for lead is especially important in older homes.
- Consider filtration. An NSF-certified water filter can reduce lead, sediment, and some bacterial contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems provide the most thorough filtration for drinking water.
- Check your pipes. If your home was built before 1986, you may have lead service lines or lead solder in your plumbing. Contact a licensed plumber to assess your situation.
- Stay informed. Monitor the city’s water utility website and local news for boil advisories and system updates.
The Bigger Picture
Jackson’s water crisis highlights a pattern seen across the United States: aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and chronic underfunding create compounding risks. The American Society of Civil Engineers has consistently rated the nation’s drinking water infrastructure as needing significant investment.
For Jackson specifically, the path forward requires sustained federal and state funding, accelerated infrastructure replacement, and fundamental reforms to the utility’s operations and billing systems.
If you’re concerned about your water quality in Jackson or anywhere in Mississippi, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend solutions tailored to your specific situation.
Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement records, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding allocations, EPA water system compliance reports