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Jackson, Mississippi, without reliable running water
The city of Jackson, Mississippi, was without reliable water supplies Monday amid heavy rainfall and flooding, officials said.
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The city of Jackson, Mississippi, was without a reliable water supply Monday after rain and flooding pushed the Pearl River to dangerous levels, officials said.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba declared a water system emergency Monday evening because of complications from the Pearl River flooding. He said issues at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant resulted in low or no water pressure for many residents.
"The water shortage is likely to last the next couple of days," the city said in a statement.
Jackson, the state’s capital and largest city, had water problems even before the rain that prompted fears of floods from the Pearl River.
The city has been under a boil-water notice since last month because tests found a cloudy quality to city-supplied water that could hinder the disinfection process and lead to illness.
Gov. Tate Reeves said at a news conference Monday night that the city's water system was unable to produce enough water.
“Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale,” Reeves said. “It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets and to meet other critical needs.”