Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) declared a state of emergency after excessive rainfall exacerbated issues at one of Jackson, Mississippi’s water treatment plants. The area has been hit hard by flooding after a large amount of rainfall last week. Flooding at the treatment plant has caused low water pressure and raised concerns about firefighting and the ability for residents to take showers or flush toilets. State health officials warned residents to be careful with what water they use for daily uses and drinking.
“The water is not safe to drink and I would even say it’s not safe to brush your teeth with,” Mississippi State Health Officer Daniel Edney said. “We are not seeing adequate chlorination and an inability to consistently disinfect the water.”
This is not Jackson’s first water-related issue. Cold snaps in each of the past two years have left some residents without running water because of busted or frozen pipes and boil water notices are frequently issued in the area.
“This is a very different situation from a boil water notice, which is also a serious situation that citizens of Jackson have become tragically numb to,” Gov. Reeves said. “Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water.”
Outcry from the community left with no drinking water during a flood emergency has been voiced to Mississippi leaders. Lawmakers reacted with alarm to Jackson’s latest water system problems.
“We have grave concerns for citizens’ health and safety,” Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said in a statement Monday, suggesting the state take a role in trying to solve the issue.
The Republican House speaker, Philip Gunn, said he has been contacted by hospitals, businesses and schools “pleading that something be done to address the water crisis in Jackson.”
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will distribute clean water to residents. The National Guard will also be called into help.