Mississippi News
Jackson water: Setback in water pressure, no timeline on repairs
Jackson sees setback in water pressure, state has no timeline on repairs
In the day following President Joseph Biden’s federal emergency declaration to aid Jackson’s drinking water recovery, city and state officials announced a setback in restoring pressure on Wednesday due to continuing effects from flood and rainwater on the treatment process.
After a promising increase in pressure on Tuesday, floodwaters coming in from the Ross Barnett Reservoir forced one side of the treatment plant to shut down Wednesday morning, state health officials said, lowering pressure for residents throughout Jackson.
“Around five o’clock this morning, the intake water from the (Ross Barnett) Reservoir that is still impacted by flooding and rain created a chemical imbalance with the conventional treatment side of the plant, which affected particulate removal, causing that side of the plant to be temporarily shut down, resulting in a water pressure loss from the conventional side,” said Jim Craig, Senior Deputy and Director at the Mississippi State Department of Health.
While reiterating that it’s impossible to know how many homes have low or no water pressure, Gov. Tate Reeves said that, during the afternoon, there were “very low levels in virtually every (elevated water) tank throughout” Jackson.
The goal is for the pressure at O.B. Curtis to reach 87 pounds per square inch (PSI), Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said. The pressure had climbed back up to 80 PSI on Tuesday night, he said, but fell back to 40 PSI after the setbacks on Wednesday.
At 40 PSI, most surface water customers have “low to no pressure,” a release from the city said.
While the plant is now treating and distributing water from the conventional side again, the water contains high levels of turbidity, Craig said, meaning that residents may see cloudiness and some color in their water. The state got approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to release water with high turbidity, and Craig added that despite its appearance, the water is safe to use for sanitation and is consumable when boiled.
Having evaluated the plant, the state health department has put together a list of needed fixes for O.B. Curtis, which include repairing raw water screens, replacing “quite a few” pumps and motors, and draining the sedimentation basins, which have a sludge build-up.
Jackson officials announced that a temporary water pump had been installed at O.B. Curtis and is now running, increasing the production ability by 5 million gallons of water per day.
Both Lumumba and Reeves were hopeful that the system would see gains in water pressure overnight when the demand for water is low, although Reeves added “there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done.”
“I do want to be clear and set expectations that there will be future interruptions, including the one today,” Reeves said Wednesday.
The governor detailed the ongoing water distribution effort, which, starting Thursday, will include 600 members of the National Guard, who will help give out water from the state’s “mega-sites” starting at noon. Reeves added that the Mississippi Forestry Commission and Mississippi Department of Public Safety will also be assisting.
The city is also distributing water; find a list of sites here.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Ole Miss women get pair of double-doubles and roll to 83-65 March Madness win over Ball State
SUMMARY: Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin found solace in returning to a different arena in Waco, Texas, following a disappointing previous tournament experience. The No. 5 seed Ole Miss Rebels redeemed themselves with an 83-65 victory over 12th-seeded Ball State in the NCAA Tournament’s first round. Starr Jacobs led the Rebels with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Kennedy Todd-Williams and Madison Scott each scored 15 points. Ole Miss dominated rebounding, leading 52-32, and will face fourth-seeded Baylor next. Coach McPhee-McCuin noted the team’s evolution since their last visit and the significance of playing in Texas, where Jacobs feels at home.
The post Ole Miss women get pair of double-doubles and roll to 83-65 March Madness win over Ball State appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: March 21-23
SUMMARY: This weekend (March 21-23), Mississippi offers a range of exciting events. Highlights include Hal’s Marching MALfunction Second Line Stomp and Jessie Robinson’s blues performance in Jackson, as well as the Natchez Food & Wine Festival and the Natchez Little Theatre’s production of *This Side of Crazy*. There are also numerous exhibitions like *Of Salt and Spirit: Black Quilters in the American South* in Jackson and *Gold in the Hills* in Vicksburg. Other events include the 48th Annual Crawfish Classic Tennis Tournament in Hattiesburg, karaoke nights in Laurel, and a variety of family-friendly activities across the state.
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: March 21-23 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: March 14-16
SUMMARY: This weekend (March 14-16) in Mississippi offers a variety of events. In Jackson, iconic saxophonist Boney James performs at the convention center, while the JXN Food & Wine festival showcases culinary talents. The LeFleur Museum District hosts a “Week of Wonder,” and several exhibitions, including “Of Salt and Spirit,” celebrate Black quilters. Natchez features the Spring Pilgrimage tours, a reenactment of Annie Stewart’s story, and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. In Hattiesburg, comedian Rob Schneider performs, and various events like a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl and a talent show will take place throughout the area.
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: March 14-16 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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