Jackson, MS Drinking Water
The water system in the City of Jackson has more than 71,000 water connections and serves the largest city in Mississippi. Following a February 2020 inspection, EPA issued a March 2020 Emergency Order to address compliance deficiencies noted during the inspection, including operational and maintenance concerns. In coordination with City of Jackson and Mississippi partners, EPA is taking steps to ensure the residents of Jackson have access to safe drinking water. Based on EPA assessment, there are significant public health and safety concerns and extensive repairs must be made to both of Jackson’s water treatment plants to deliver safe drinking water.
On November 29, 2022, a proposed order was filed to (1) set forth a Priority Projects List with critical steps needed to stabilize the City of Jackson’s drinking water system, remedy problems that contributed to the water crisis, and establish sustainable practices for the future; (2) appoint Mr. Edward “Ted” Henifin as the Interim Third-Party Manager to manage and operate the City of Jackson ‘s drinking water system and implement the Priority Projects List; and (3) stay this matter for a period of six months, during which time the Parties will begin negotiations on a consent decree that addresses the City of Jackson’s long-term compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. A complaint was also filed concerning the failure of the City of Jackson to provide drinking water that is reliably compliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act to the City’s residents.
- U.S. vs. City of Jackson, MS Motion to Enter Interim Stipulated Order (pdf)
- U.S. vs. City of Jackson, MS Stipulated Order Associated Documents (pdf)
- U.S. vs. City of Jackson, MS Complaint with Attachments (pdf)
September 2022 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Sampling Results:
Water Quality Sample Sites in Jackson, MS
- Jackson, MS Haloacedic Acids and Trihalomethanes Water Sampling Data (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Water Sampling Data: Pesticides, PCBs, Miscellaneous Data (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Final Analytical Report for Classical/Nutrient Analyses, Semi Volatile Organics, Total Metals, Volatile Organics (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Distribution System Disinfection By-Product Summary (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Entry Point to Distribution System Detection Summary (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Drinking Water Analysis: Radiation Data (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Lead and Copper Rule Water Results (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Drinking Water Analysis: Dioxin Data (pdf)
- Jackson, MS Final Analytical Report for Volatile Organics (pdf)
To date, the City of Jackson has been addressing EPA concerns reported in the following documents:
- EPA National Enforcement Investigations Center Civil Investigation Report (Feb. 2020 – transmitted to City on March 30, 2020) (pdf)
- March 27, 2020 Emergency Order (pdf)
- May 28, 2020 Emergency Order Amendment (pdf)
- May 11, 2020 Notice of Noncompliance (pdf)
- April 26, 2021 Notice of Noncompliance (pdf)
- July 1, 2021 Safe Drinking Water Administrative Order on Consent (pdf)
- January 2022 Notice of Noncompliance of the Safe Drinking Water Act, City of Jackson Public Water System (pdf)
On July 1, 2021, EPA and the City of Jackson entered into entered into a Safe Drinking Water Administrative Order on Consent with the City of Jackson to address long term challenges and make needed improvements to the drinking water system. The agreement memorializes enforceable steps and specific time frames for the City to come into compliance with national and state regulations to reliably deliver safe drinking water and ensure the public’s health is protected. Read more in the July 1, 2021 news release.