Jackson, Mississippi preparing to go without water periodically for 10 years

Organizations in Jackson, Mississippi are asking other states for help as the water crisis dries up resources.

It has been over five months since the Pearl River and Jackson, Mississippi water system failed. Now crews are working to replace the pipe system, but families and businesses are prepared to regularly go without water for up to 10 years.

Cities across the country are replacing fragile water pipe systems. In addition to Jackson, there is Flint, Michigan, Baltimore, Maryland and Houston, Texas.

After failure, the systems are replaced in sections. However, these year-long projects can lead to burst water pipes.

Kenneth Wayne Jones serves as Hinds County Administrator, which includes Jackson. He said their water crisis was decades in the making and the situation will get worse before things get better.

Residents distribute water boxes at the Grove Park Community Center on September 3, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Residents distribute water boxes at the Grove Park Community Center on September 3, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi.
The people of Jackson are asking for help and drinking water from other states.

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“Every move you make to alleviate this problem causes the pressure to go in a different direction. And if it goes in one direction, there are old pipes or the water main breaks. And when the water pipes start to rupture, the pressure shifts everywhere. It’s particularly tough for our businesses,” Jones said.

Jones said Jackson’s longstanding water problem caused years of economic decline.

Jackson has seen more than 10% of its residents abandoned in the past decade.

Our research shows that over 6,000 out of almost 9,000 companies left the city in the same period.

Fredick Womack directs Operation Good. He said as national attention has shifted to other cities or problems, local organizations are feeling the strain and are unsure if their resources can sustain another five to 10 years of water outages.

“People rely very heavily on organizations like ours, Operation Good, to provide them with water and basic needs because when the water runs out, people can’t even shower, bathe or use toilets,” Womack said.

Members of the Progressive Morningstar Baptist Church transport boxes of water after a Sunday morning service in Jackson, Mississippi on September 4, 2022.Members of the Progressive Morningstar Baptist Church transport boxes of water after a Sunday morning service in Jackson, Mississippi on September 4, 2022.AFP via Getty Images

Waterfalls are pictured at a Wal-Mart in Byram, Mississippi.Many drinking water systems in the United States need repair or replacement.AFP via Getty Images

The people of Jackson are asking for more help from other states.

“Send drinking water. Keep sending drinking water. You can send it to the city or county. There are so many areas where we need these resources for these people. It’s an ongoing process,” Jones said.

More cities are likely to need help, as the American Society of Civil Engineers rates the United States as a “C-” overall for drinking water systems and says many need repair or replacement. This could result in a nationwide drain on resources.

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