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. 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. In coordination with the Department of Justice, City of Jackson and Mississippi partners, EPA is taking steps to ensure the residents of Jackson have access to safe drinking water.
EPA and the Department of Justice want to ensure that all community members have an opportunity to comment on long term solutions to drinking water and sewer overflow issues in Jackson. To that end, the agencies asked Jackson residents and workers to submit Community Statements through July 31, 2023. The Federal Government, the City of Jackson, and the State of Mississippi will consider comments in the Community Statements when developing long-term solutions.
Background
On November 29, 2022, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi entered an Interim Stipulated Order (ISO), agreed to by the EPA, the Mississippi State Department of Health, and the City of Jackson 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. The United States Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, also filed a complaint 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) (502.46 KB)
- U.S. vs City of Jackson, MS Stipulated Order (Drinking Water) (pdf) (878.04 KB)
- Amendment to Interim Stipulated Order (Drinking Water) (pdf) (370.1 KB, 04/04/2023)
- U.S. vs. City of Jackson, MS Stipulated Order Associated Documents (pdf) (23.02 MB)
- U.S. vs. City of Jackson, MS Complaint with Attachments (pdf) (14.95 MB)
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Agreed Motion to Amend Interim Third-Party Manager’s Professional Budget (pdf)
(259.14 KB, 04/21/2023)
- Amended Interim Third-Party Manager’s Professional Budget (pdf) (315.68 KB, 04/21/2023)
Pursuant to the ISO, the Interim Third-Party Manager sends Quarterly Status Reports to the EPA providing information on the progress under the ISO. The EPA has provided comments on the Reports:
- Quarterly Status Report for Quarter ended December 31, 2022
- Quarterly Status Report for Quarter ended March 31, 2023:
- EPA letter to ITPM counsel (5/15/23) (pdf) (180.55 KB)
- ITPM response (5/18/23) (pdf) (722.58 KB)
- EPA letter to ITPM counsel (5/31/23) (pdf) (267.08 KB) (5/31/23)
- Quarterly Status Report for Quarter Ended June 30, 2023:
- EPA letter to ITPM counsel (8/21/23) (pdf) (206.01 KB)
-
Quarterly Status Report for Quarter Ended September 30, 2023 (pdf)
(7.19 MB)
- EPA letter to ITPM counsel 11/15/2023 (pdf) (410.23 KB, 11/15/2023)
- Quarterly Status Report for Quarter Ended December 31, 2023
- Updated Financial Management Plan (Jan. 31, 2024) (coming soon)
- EPA Letter to ITPM Counsel (Feb. 16, 2024) (pdf) (276.49 KB, February 16, 2024)
- Quarterly Status Report, for Quarter Ended March 31, 2024
- EPA letter to ITPM counsel dated May 21, 2024 (pdf) (217.59 KB, May 2024)
- Quarterly Status Report, for Quarter Ended June 30, 2024
- EPA letter to ITPM counsel dated Aug. 20, 2024 (pdf) (267.04 KB, August 2024)
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) (457.93 KB)
- Jackson, MS Water Sampling Data: Pesticides, PCBs, Miscellaneous Data (pdf) (48.52 KB)
- Jackson, MS Final Analytical Report for Classical/Nutrient Analyses, Semi Volatile Organics, Total Metals, Volatile Organics (pdf) (264.48 KB)
- Jackson, MS Distribution System Disinfection By-Product Summary (pdf) (433.39 KB)
- Jackson, MS Entry Point to Distribution System Detection Summary (pdf) (432 KB)
- Jackson, MS Drinking Water Analysis: Radiation Data (pdf) (781.28 KB)
- Jackson, MS Lead and Copper Rule Water Results (pdf) (109.37 KB)
- Jackson, MS Drinking Water Analysis: Dioxin Data (pdf) (351.07 KB)
- Jackson, MS Final Analytical Report for Volatile Organics (pdf) (172.53 KB)
On July 1, 2021, EPA and the City of Jackson 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. A subsequent notice of noncompliance was issued in January 2022.
- July 1, 2021 news release
- July 1, 2021 Safe Drinking Water Administrative Order on Consent (pdf) (3.6 MB)
- January 2022 Notice of Noncompliance of the Safe Drinking Water Act, City of Jackson Public Water System (pdf) (207.02 KB)
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. The Emergency Order was later amended, and two notices of non-compliance were issued.
- EPA National Enforcement Investigations Center Civil Investigation Report (Feb. 2020 – transmitted to City on March 30, 2020) (pdf) (7.55 MB)
- March 27, 2020 Emergency Order (pdf) (4.09 MB)
- May 28, 2020 Emergency Order Amendment (pdf) (109.8 KB)
- May 11, 2020 Notice of Noncompliance (pdf) (280.13 KB)
- April 26, 2021 Notice of Noncompliance (pdf) (285.67 KB)