In Jackson, Mississippi more than 160,000 people are stuck without clean, running water. After years of neglecting the water treatment plants and being ignored, the water treatment plants have finally caused catastrophe. 

The first thing you need to know about the water crisis is that it is not a new problem. The water treatment plants have been on the edge of collapse for years. In 2021, residents experienced a water-boil notice that lasted 200 days. Thousands of people went weeks without water due to the lack of funding for vital repairs needed to keep the plant running smoothly.  

The poor water quality stems mostly from the Mississippi River, which has been contaminated by fertilizer, wasted water, and agricultural runoff for years. Several studies have shown the water to have major environmental risk factors. The water quality caused several school closures, life-threatening issues for infants and elderly residents  as well as hospital shutdowns.

The weather is also a contributing factor to the plant’s failure. Heavy rain storms leading to floods overrunning the treatments and sending worse water to the people of Jackson.  

The government has had a slow response to the rapidly deteriorating water situation that has caused thousands of residents to leave Jackson. Federal water funding has declined nearly 80% from 1970. When governor Tate Reeves finally responded to the water plant failure he declared it a “state of emergency” which allowed the state health department to watch over the new repairs, as well as adopt a new contract to bring in more staff. Reeves also asked the Biden Administration for financial assistance, which resulted in new emergency protective measures and 75% funding for 90 days. The repairs were estimated to cost around $1 billion. However, the city has only received $429 million. The university has been set to receive roughly half of the $5 million Jackson state requested for the water crisis. 

However, the list of struggles continues. According to Phil McMausland with NBC news, Desmond Washington, a sophomore at Jackson state University, learned this the hard way when he was hospitalized because of a severe rash on his back. A rash that seemed to show up after he showered in his dorm room. After some antibiotics and an IV drip, Desmond was released with doctors claiming the water exposed him to bacteria. Shortly after his release however, the school shut down once again, sending Desmond and all his classmates back to virtual learning. Teachers and parents keep their eyes to city and state officials for answers. 

The locals are not new to this struggle. They have taken it upon themselves to distribute water bottles for their neighbors and communities, as well as assisting others in paying for food and hotel stays. “The crisis that has left residents of Jackson, Mississippi, struggling to bathe, cook, and flush their toilets has been decades in the making.” (Wright, Aallyah, and Adam Mahonry. Capital B News, 31 Aug. 2022.) However these resilient people seem to be making the best of their situation.