EPA blames state for Jackson water crisis, cites inadequate oversight
(UI) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a critical report highlighting the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) failures in overseeing Jackson’s water system, which contributed to the 2022 water crisis impacting 150,000 residents.
According to the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), as reported by The Hill, the MSDH's inspections from 2015 to 2021 failed to adequately document or communicate critical issues in Jackson’s water system.
The report points out that the MSDH’s lack of proper enforcement and reporting led to a gap in the EPA’s understanding of the water system’s operational problems. This oversight allowed issues to accumulate, culminating in the system’s breakdown. Specifically, violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act from 2016 and 2017 were not reported promptly, and enforcement actions were delayed for over four years.
Furthermore, a 2015 report revealed that lead levels in water samples exceeded safety thresholds, but Jackson was not informed until January 2016. The OIG has recommended that the EPA enhance its sanitary survey methods and update its guidance on the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA has agreed to these recommendations.
The crisis, triggered by flooding of the Pearl River that disabled Jackson’s main water treatment facility, left residents without clean water for an extended period. The city’s demographic shifts and political conflicts have compounded the situation. Following the crisis, the EPA referred Jackson to the Justice Department, resulting in the appointment of a third-party manager to address the situation.
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