Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Officials with the City of Jackson announced that the boil water notice has been lifted for all connections on the city’s surface water system.

Friday, Jan. 6, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson will host water distribution events this weekend.

The water distributions will take place at the following locations on Friday, January 6:

  • 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near old Dillard’s loading dock (flushing and drinking water)
  • 5:00 p.m. at Forest Hill High School (flushing and drinking water)

The water distributions will take place at the following locations on Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8:

  • 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near old Dillard’s loading dock (flushing and drinking water)

Elderly or disabled residents, who are unable to travel to a distribution site, can contact 311 or 601-960-1875 for water.

Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba announced the capital city has received nearly $800 million to help repair this city’s water infrastructure.

In 2022, Congress passed a bill that included $600 million in emergency funding for water infrastructure projects in Jackson.

Lumumba said the funds will be used to help replace pipes and sewer mains across the city. However, he said this process will take years to complete.

The city’s water system will remain vulnerable to severe weather events until full repairs and upgrades have been made to the water system.

Jackson leaders said a boil water notice has been lifted for five zip codes in the area. This comes after a citywide boil water notice was issued in December 2022.

As of Thursday, January 5, the precautionary boil water notice was lifted for the following areas:

  • 39211 (Lifted 12/30)
  • 39206
  • 39202
  • 39201
  • 39213

For more information, residents can contact call 601-960-2723 during business hours or 601-960-1777/601-960-1875 after 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – All Jackson Public Schools (JPS) will shift to virtual learning due to little or no water pressure.

Leaders said 33 schools reported low or no water pressure on Tuesday, January 3. JPS will shift to virtual learning on Thursday, January 5 and Friday, January 6.

Student computer device pick-up will take place on Wednesday, January 4 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at each school site.

Meals (breakfast and lunch) will be available for pick-up at each school on January 5 and 6 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 

Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson announced water distribution sites for Tuesday, January 3.

Here are the following locations that will provide water:

  • West Jackson
    • 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near old Dillard’s loading dock (flushing and drinking water)
    • 5:00 p.m. at the Queens community at Triumph Church (drinking water only)
  • South Jackson
    • 5:00 p.m. at the parking area behind Forest Hill High School (flushing water and drinking water)

Elderly or disabled residents, who are unable to travel to a distribution site, can contact 311 or 601-960-1875 for water.

Monday, Jan. 2, 2023

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Water officials are asking Jacksonians to conserve their water as crews work to repair the damaged water system.

Third Party Water Manager Ted Henifin said crews are making progress, but more water is needed before the issue can be resolved. He said the system needs more water than usual due to the losses that occurred during a recent freeze.

He asks that Jackson neighbors conserve water to help repair the water system. If plans go as expected, he said system pressure could be normal by Tuesday morning.

Henifin said sampling on Monday may allow the city to lift the boil water notice in one area of the city on Tuesday. Likewise, sampling done on Tuesday may allow the city to lift the notice on Wednesday for other areas.

The City of Jackson announced water distribution sites for Monday, January 2.

Here are the following locations that will provide water:

  • West Jackson
    • 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near the old Dillard’s loading dock
    • 2:00 p.m. at the Queens Community at Triumph Church (Flag Chapel side)
  • Northwest Jackson
    • 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Northside Drive and Manhattan Road near Smilow Prep
  • South Jackson
    • 5:00 p.m. at Candlestick Plaza off of Cooper Road

Elderly or disabled residents, who are unable to travel to a distribution site, can contact 311 or 601-960-1875 for water.

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A boil water notice has been lifted for parts of the City of Jackson.

Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin said progress with the recovery from the winter storm is being made. The city lifted the boil water notice from the well system and a portion of the surface water system, which is only for services in the 39211 zip code.

Testing will continue Saturday morning for the remaining portions of the surface water system. Henifin said the goal is to have results cleared on Sunday, January 1, 2023, in order to lift the order for the remaining zip codes.

According to Henifin, there is a chance that some areas with the biggest pressure challenges may not clear by Sunday, but those areas could be fully restored on Monday, January 2, 2023.

Henifin said pressure should be sufficient for schools, colleges and businesses to reopen on Tuesday after the New Year’s weekend.

Friday, Dec. 30, 2022

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Leaders with the City of Jackson provided an update on the city’s boil water notice and announced where Friday’s water giveaways will be held.

City leaders said pressure at the plants have recovered. They expect the system to recover fully by Saturday or Sunday. Samples will be taken, and the results are expected to come in by Sunday or Monday. They said more water is needed to fill the tanks, which happens over time.

Lifting the boil water notice depends on two factors. They said all connections need to have 20 PSI pressure before the citywide notice can be lifted. However, they can begin lifting the notice in areas where pressure has been recovered (by ZIP code). Also, bacteria testing must be done before the notice can be lifted.

City leaders said samples were taken from the well system and from one ZIP code’s surface water system. If those results come back clear on Friday, the notice can be lifted in those areas.

Here are the following locations that will provide water on Friday:

  • West Jackson – 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near the old Dillard’s loading dock
  • South Jackson – 5:00 p.m. at Candlestick Plaza off of Cooper Road
  • Northwest Jackson – 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Northside Drive and Manhattan Road near Smilow Prep

Elderly or disabled residents, who are unable to travel to a distribution site, can contact 311 or 601-960-1875 for water.

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson announced water distribution sites for Thursday, December 29.

Here are the following locations that will provide water:

  • West Jackson – 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near the old Dillard’s loading dock
  • South Jackson – 5:00 p.m. at Candlestick Plaza off of Cooper Road
  • Northwest Jackson – 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Northside Drive and Manhattan Road near Smilow Prep

Elderly or disabled residents, who are unable to travel to a distribution site, can contact 311 or 601-960-1875 for water.

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson announced water distribution sites for Wednesday, December 28.

Here are the following locations that will provide water:

  • West Jackson – 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near the old Dillard’s loading dock
  • South Jackson – 5:00 p.m. at Candlestick Plaza off of Cooper Road
  • Northwest Jackson – 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Northside Drive and Manhattan Road near Smilow Prep

Elderly or disabled residents, who are unable to travel to a distribution site, can contact 311 or 601-960-1875 for water.

Beginning Wednesday, December 28, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to provide the public with access to non-potable water in order to assist with the current Jackson water situation. 

In making preparations to obtain water at the fairgrounds, the public should be aware of the following: 

  • You must enter the Mississippi State Fairgrounds at Gate 1, located at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Amite Street.  
  • You must bring your own containers with lids to fill. The Fairgrounds does not supply containers.  
  • You can begin accessing water today, December 28, at 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Fairgrounds will be open for water container fill-up Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. until further notice.  
  • The Mississippi State Fairgrounds is located at 1207 Mississippi Street, Jackson, Miss.  

At this time, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will be providing access to non-potable water only, not drinking or bottled water. Non-potable water is water that is use for flushing and purposes other than drinking. 

Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said city crews have found more than 20 water leaks throughout the city, and they are still searching for more.

Although pressure has increased in the system, it has not seen a full recovery.

According to Lumumba, Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin said the partial recovery came from people turning off their faucets after the below freezing temperatures passed.

He said projects to repair parts of the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Facility are almost done, but more work is needed to completely fix the system.

The mayor hopes the notice will be lifted by Saturday, December 31.

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba issued a Local State of Emergency on Monday, December 26 due to the ongoing water crisis.

Leaders said water crews are still dealing with complications at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Facility due to freezing temperatures over the weekend. A citywide boil water notice was issued for Jackson on Sunday, December 25.

Crews are working to identify leaks in order to restore pressure, but pressure remains low in the city.

Officials said they’ve received more reports of areas in South Jackson, Byram and West Jackson with little to no water pressure. There are also scattered neighborhoods throughout the city that remain impacted.

Neighbors are asked to continue to report water leaks. During normal business hours, 311 is taking calls. If you cannot get through, contact 601-960-1111. If it’s after hours, contact 601-960-1875.

The City of Jackson announced water distribution sites for Tuesday, December 27.

Here are the following locations that will provide water:

  • South Jackson – 2:00 p.m. at Candlestick Plaza off Cooper Road
  • Northwest Jackson – 2:00 p.m. at Corner of Northside Drive and Manhattan Road near Smillow Prep
  • West Jackson – 2:00 p.m. at Metrocenter Mall near old Dillard’s loading dock
  • Byram – 2:00 p.m. at Davis Road Park (2515 David Road)

If neighbors are unable to travel to a distribution site, contact 311 or 601-960-1875.

Lumumba held a news conference on Tuesday, December 27 to discuss the ongoing water crisis. He warned that the city will be vulnerable until a proper water system is in place.

A boil water advisory was also issued until further notice for all connections on the Jackson-Maddox Road Well System. This advisory does include well connections in Byram and areas of Hinds County.

During the news conference, Lumumba said five crews are moving throughout the city in order to make repairs to water main breaks. Water pressure still remains low as of Tuesday, December 27.

According to Lumumba, Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin has been onsite at O.B. Curtis during this incident. He has been working to find vendors in order to provide non-potable water to residents. The city plans to release distribution information for non-potable at a later time.

Some Jackson fire stations are providing non-potable water to residents. However, stations 6, 11, 12 and 15 are without water at this time.