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The state of Mississippi on Tuesday was scrambling to bring a long-neglected water treatment plant in its capital city back on line a day after it broke down, leaving about 180,000 residents without potable running water, possibly for days.
Governor Tate Reeves on Monday evening declared a state of emergency for Jackson, with 150,000 residents, and surrounding communities where 30,000 more people live, warning residents not to drink the water.
“Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale. It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets, and to meet other critical needs,” Reeves said, referring to the treatment plant.
Jackson, whose residents are more than 80% Black or African American, according to U.S. Census data, was already on a boiled water alert for a month.
Jeff Good, 58, owns a bakery, a pizza parlor, and an Italian restaurant in Jackson. All three establishments were closed on Tuesday because of a lack of water pressure.
He had to tell his 210 employees to stay home, and in the restaurant business, he said, that means they don’t get paid.
