Jackson's boil water advisory lifted after clean water restored

Jackson, Mississippi on Thursday lifted its boil water advisory after Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced that clean water had been restored to the city.

Why it matters: The city has had a boil water advisory in place since July, when tests showed water quality was "cloudy." Flooding in the Pearl River exacerbated the crisis and damaged the city's water system, upending life for the city of nearly 150,000 people.

• Schools were forced to return to remote learning while businesses had to shutter or install expensive fixes like portable toilets, Axios' Fadel Allassan reports. People have had to wait in long lines for potable water.
• The city is over 80% Black.

What they're saying: "On Tuesday, the Mississippi State Department of Health officially began testing water quality. We can now announce we have restored clean water to the city of Jackson," Reeves said at a press conference.

• "The boil water advisory can be lifted for all those who rely on Jackson’s water system."

The O.B. Curtis Water Plant has "remained at steady pressure over the past 24 hours," Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said in a statement.

• Though the city has received "isolated reports of discolored water and pressure issues," the number of these reports has decreased each day, he said.
• "Overall water production did increase again yesterday," he added. "This is progress as we continue to work towards a consistent and reliable system."

The big picture: Reeves and Lumumba have each accused the other's office of failing to address longstanding issues in the city's water treatment prior to the crisis.

• President Biden approved a federal emergency disaster declaration in August as Jackson residents remained without running water.
• Reeves had also announced a state of emergency and activated the National Guard to assist the city.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Jackson's mayor on the O.B. Curtis Water Plant.