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DOJ calls Jackson, Mississippi’s water system an ‘imminent danger to human health’

The DOJ threatened possible legal action against Jackson officials Monday over Jackson, Mississippi’s water system.

Freezing temperatures across the deep south are threatening dozens of water systems, freezing and breaking pipes. Credit - USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency Public Domain
Freezing temperatures across the deep south are threatening dozens of water systems, freezing and breaking pipes. Credit - USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency Public Domain

The Detartment of Justice threatened possible legal action against Jackson officials Monday over Jackson, Mississippi’s water system, warning that “an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health exists.”

On Monday, the DOJ notified Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba that it was prepared to file a complaint against the city under the Safe Water Drinking Act, citing years of problems with Jackson’s water system.

In the letter to Mayor Chokwe Lumumba obtained by NBC affiliate WLBT, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim detailed long-standing problems with the city’s water system, including a recent crisis that left most residents without running water for days, chronic line breaks and more than 300 boil water notices in the past two years.

However, at the same time, the DOJ is also urging the city leaders to begin “immediate negotiations” on a path forward, in an effort to stave off that potential legal action.

Michael Regan, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) in a news release after a meeting with Kim and Lumumba and a coalition of local pastors in Mississippi’s capital city Monday said:

“The people of Jackson, Mississippi, have lacked access to safe and reliable water for decades. After years of neglect, Jackson’s water system finally reached a breaking point this summer, leaving tens of thousands of people without any running water for weeks. These conditions are unacceptable in the United States of America.”

AOL.com.

The move by the Justice Department and EPA comes about two weeks after Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and local officials announced that the water in Jackson was safe to drink after a weekslong boil water notice due to some turbidty.

Since that time, officials have issued several new boil water advisories for areas of the city. And state health officials recently reiiterated a six-yearold advisory that pregnant women and children 5 years old and younger should avoid using tap water for cooking and drinking to prevent lead exposure.

The Justice Department gave the city until Wednesday to respond. Lumumba said Monday that his administration intends to cooperate with federal officials. “We believe that this arrangement represents the best path forward,” he said in a statement.

An ongoing problem for years

The problem with Jackson’s water treatment facilities and its overall poor water quality is not something that started a year ago, or even two years ago.You can go back to before 2010.

Strangely enough, for years before this most recent water problem, Mississippi Gov. Reeves claimed to have helped block money to fund water system repairs in the capital city, reports PBS.org.

Reeves, a Republican, blames Jackson’s water crisis on mismanagement at the city level. The city’s latest water troubles are far from its first, and they have stemmed from decaying infrastructure beyond one water treatment plant. The EPA said 300 boil water notices have been issued over the past two years in the city.

But, back to Reeves… As he climbed the political ladder, he cited his opposition to financially helping the capital as evidence of his fiscal conservatism.

Jackson-area lawmakers say the troubled water system is one example of Jackson’s status as a political punching bag for Republican officials, who control the Legislature and the state Bond Commission.

“We operate under the golden rule here,” said Democratic Sen. John Horhn of Jackson. “And the golden rule is: He who has the gold makes the rules.”

A few facts about Jackson may add some substance to what is going on. Jackson is the most populous city in Mississippi. The city had a population of 153,701 at the 2020 census, down from 173,514 at the 2010 census. In Jackson, 80 percent of the citizens are black and 25 percent live in poverty.

While there are a number of activists ready to fight for what is right with this water problem, when the governor and his GOP heavy legislature are in charge, very little is going to get done.But why should Black citizens not have a right to clean water? That is still a question not being answered.

At a September news conference, Reeves said water service was restored to most of the city only after the state “stepped in” to provide emergency repairs. He also said that he didn’t anticipate a need for the Legislature to approve more debt for Jackson’s water system.

And a related news story just blows this journalist’s mind. In the city’s efforts to renovate the Russell C. Davis Planetarium, city council approved a $7.5 million bond to help fund the project.

Tuesday, the council voted 5-0-1 to approve the bond, which will include $6 million for the planetarium and another $1 million going to the Arts Center of Mississippi.

What a choice – People with no water to drink or even bathe in versus a nice new science and art center. You make the choice.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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