Jackson Mississippi Water Crisis Could Cost Billions To Fix Mayor

Lumumba attributed the city’s water crisis to a lack of maintenance in recent decades, adding that it would cost billions of dollars to fix the problem. “It’s a set of accumulated problems based on deferred maintenance that hasn’t been done for decades,” Lumumba said. Lumumba estimated that it would cost at least $1 billion to fix the water distribution system and billions more to completely fix the problem. “The people of Jackson deserve a reliable system, and we look forward to a coalition of the willing joining us in the fight to improve this system that has been failing for decades,” Lumumba said. At least 180,000 people will be without reliable drinking water indefinitely in Jackson after pumps at the main water treatment plant failed this week, officials said. A large pump at Jackson’s OB Curtis water treatment plant was damaged, forcing the city to use backup pumps, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said at a news conference Monday night. Reeves declared a state of emergency Tuesday and activated the state National Guard to help officials deal with the ongoing water emergency. A firefighter places cases of bottled water in a resident’s SUV at the Fire Station as part of the city’s response to a long-standing water problem in Jackson, Miss., on August 18, 2022. Rogelio V. Solis/AP “The state is putting together tremendous resources to protect the people of our capital city,” Reeves said at the conference. Residents will not have reliable running water in the state capital until the problem is resolved, officials said. Reeves said the water shortage would make it difficult for Jackson to produce enough water to fight fires, flush toilets and other basic needs. Residents have lined roads and highways across the city to reach water distribution points. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mississippi has not formally asked the federal government to help bring in water, but is ready to help “in any way we can” when that request is made. “We stand ready and look forward to further assistance once we receive a formal request from the state,” he said on Air Force One Tuesday. Officials are warning city residents not to drink the water because it is raw water from the reservoirs pushed through the pipes. A portion of Highway 489 is washed out due to flooding in Newton County near Marrow Road, Miss., in a photo released by the Highway Safety Patrol, Aug. 24, 2022. Mississippi Highway Patrol via AFP/Getty Images Jackson has been under a boil water advisory since July 29. In February 2021, freezing temperatures caused water and power outages in Jackson. Lumumba told ABC News Live Prime on Tuesday that Jackson not only needs a sustainable system, but a fair one. “We’re suffering disproportionately in the southern part of our city,” he said. “Some of the poorest parts of our city feel the brunt of this challenge more consistently and worse than the rest of our city.” A day after the current water crisis was announced, Jackson Public Works Director Marlin King was reassigned to another role, Lumumba said. King now serves as deputy director of public works, while former planning and development director Jordan Hillman will fill King’s old position, according to ABC News Jackson affiliate WAPT. ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth, Darren Reynolds and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

Jackson Mississippi Water Crisis Could Cost Billions To Fix Mayor

title: “Jackson Mississippi Water Crisis Could Cost Billions To Fix Mayor Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-30” author: “Gordon Scoby”

title: “Jackson Mississippi Water Crisis Could Cost Billions To Fix Mayor Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-12” author: “Tomas Huddleston”

title: “Jackson Mississippi Water Crisis Could Cost Billions To Fix Mayor Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Henry Munoz”