Jackson’s long-term infrastructure problems are far from over, but the crisis the mid-February winter storm left on the city’s residents has been largely addressed.
The city’s large-scale water service disruptions are over for most residents, with the remaining incidents of low or no water pressure being mostly caused by faulty water meters or broken pipes at individual buildings. On March 17, the city was able to lift the precautionary boil water notice on it’s 43,000 surface water connections.
A historic winter storm beginning on Feb. 14 froze water plant equipment and burst many pipes in the capital city, and at least 40,000 residents — mostly Black — were without water for about three weeks.
City leaders, who have neglected funding the water system for decades, say they need major investment from the state to repair system, which is estimated to cost at least $1 billion. State lawmakers are debating how to address the water crisis before they are scheduled to leave Jackson on April 4.
Aid may also come to the city from the federal government. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith filed a bill on March 16 that taps three federal agencies to provide the city with a combination of loans, loan forgiveness and grants for water infrastructure projects.
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Here’s the latest on the Jackson water crisis
by Will Stribling and Vickie King, Mississippi Today March 12, 2021