1.1M bottles of water distributed by state to Jackson residents
By Ross Adams
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JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — More than 1.1 million bottles of water were distributed by Mississippi agencies on Thursday in response to Jackson’s water emergency, according to state officials.
Gov. Tate Reeves has issued a state of emergency in response to the city water crisis. Additionally, the governor activated the Mississippi National Guard to support state assistance to the city of Jackson and surrounding areas.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be in Jackson Friday to see what’s being done to get the situation under control and determine how the federal government can continue to help.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday approved the governor’s request for a federal emergency declaration in response to Jackson’s water crisis.
“There’s money to deal with this problem,” Biden said Thursday. “We’ve given them the EPA. We’ve given them everything there is to offer.”
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar said Thursday during a joint news conference with the governor that local, state and federal agencies are working together “to ensure that we keep the most primary focus on the residents of Jackson.”
The mayor said “positive gains” have been made in the system — a day after an emergency rental raw water pump was installed at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant.
The mayor said the J.H. Fewell Water Treatment Plant is running at normal capacity, and the city well water system tanks are stable.
Residents are still advised to boil their water for drinking, cooking and cleaning dishes. You don’t need to boil water for washing clothes, hands or when bathing. Drinking water and non-potable water are being distributed at several sites around Jackson.
Jackson residents on the city surface water system have already been under a boil-water notice for weeks. Residents on the city’s well water system have not been affected.
According to Lumumba, the city’s ongoing water issues result from decades of deferred maintenance and staffing shortages.
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