Public health officials in Jackson, Mississippi, have lifted a boil-water advisory since tests came back positive for E. coli a week ago, marking the latest setback in a continuing saga of water mismanagement in the majority-Black capital.
The water authority issued the alert on Jan. 11, warning that water should be “boiled vigorously for 1 minute before it is consumed,” affecting more than 200,000 residents in the capital region, including Jackson, Byram and Flowood — where the majority of households are Black.
For years, civic activists have attributed the persistent water issues in Jackson to systemic neglect, accusing state officials of ignoring calls to step and help the beleaguered city upgrade its water system — a pattern identified as a form of environmental racism that disproportionately impacts communities of color.
Jackson’s ongoing water problems resemble those in Flint, Michigan, where majority-Black residents have faced more than a decade of water-related challenges, including an outbreak of Legionnaires disease and lead contamination from crumbling infrastructure and aging service pipes.
At the time of last week’s emergency, Jackson’s interim water manager, JXN Water, disputed the findings by the Mississippi State Department of Health, saying it was highly unusual that E. coli was found in more than one water system on the same day, while noting that chlorine in the treatment process should have easily eliminated the bacteria.
Despite doubts about the findings, the state health agency maintained confidence in the test results, asserting that the samples were never contaminated and defending its decision to issue the water advisory.
“In spite of the allegations made by the City of Jackson Water Supply, the Mississippi State Department of Health stands behind the initial test results that indicated the presence of E. coli in the City of Jackson’s surface water,” the state health department…
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