“On Tuesday, the Mississippi State Department of Health began officially conducting tests of the water quality. They collected 120 samples for two consecutive days. We can now announce that we have restored clean water to the city of Jackson,” Reeves said.
“While we have restored water quality, the system is still imperfect and we’re going to address issues throughout the duration of the state’s response, ” he said.
Reeves said it is possible that there will be further interruptions to the city’s water system.
The EPA is investigating Jackson’s water crisis
The boil-water advisory issued in late July meant tap water must be boiled before being used to drink, cook, make ice, wash dishes or brush teeth.
It was issued after cloudy water at the O.B. Curtis plant was blamed on high levels of the mineral manganese, “combined with the use of lime,” the city said.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has said they are investigating the crisis.
The city’s water problems are largely systemic and have included old and leaky pipes, malfunctions at treatment plants and insufficient money to fix the problems, according to a report by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting that the Clarion Ledger newspaper published in January.
Staffing at the plant also has been a problem. EPA staff found during a March visit that the city did not have adequate staffing for the system, leading to routine and preventative maintenance not being carried out.
CNN’s Theresa Waldrop contributed to this story.
Source : CNN
