It was reported that parts of Jackson, the capital, were without running water on Tuesday because flooding had created problems in one of the two water-treatment plants.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted that the president had ordered his team to surge federal assistance to the region.
Jackson with its 150,000 residents had already been under a boil-water notice for a month because of cloudy water that could lead to digestive problems. Across the city, long lines formed seeking the limited supply of bottled water. Heavy rainfall over the last several days has left too much water on the ground and not enough flowing through the pipes for human consumption.
The current problem is the result of short staffing and “decades of deferred maintenance,” said Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. He added that the influx of water from torrential rains changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, and this slowed the process of pushing water out to customers.
Jackson is not alone in its water crisis. Many cities, particularly the more marginalized ones, are faced with water problems they can’t afford to fix. This is mainly a problem that stems from a diminished population and an eroded tax base. In Jackson, where the city is more than 80% Black, about 25% of its residents are living in poverty.