The 2022 water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, which left the predominantly Black city without clean water for 48 days, could have been prevented with proper federal oversight, according to a new report from the Project on Government Oversight. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to compel Mississippi to invest in Jackson’s deteriorating water system, despite clear signs of its impending failure.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan witnessed the system’s shortcomings firsthand during a 2021 visit to Wilkins Elementary, where low water pressure prevented toilets from flushing. Despite this, the EPA gave Mississippi a positive review for its distribution of federal funds just days before the crisis hit.
The report reveals that Jackson received significantly less funding compared to other disadvantaged communities. “Jackson originally was awarded 82 percent less loan subsidy per capita when compared to all other disadvantaged communities,” between 2015 and 2022, according to an EPA inspector general report.
The EPA’s reluctance to critically review states’ investments of federal funds contributed to the problem. Johnnie Purify, Jr., from the EPA’s regional office, explained, “States don’t like us to write findings,” highlighting the agency’s preference for maintaining cooperative relationships with states over strict oversight.
This crisis underscores the health disparities faced by minority communities, as Jackson’s population is 80% Black. The city’s shrinking and impoverished tax base made it impossible to take on the $1 billion loan needed to modernize the system.
Only after the crisis did Jackson receive $600 million in direct funding to address its water infrastructure issues, highlighting the need for proactive investment in minority communities’ essential services to prevent such health emergencies.
See “The Jackson Water Crisis Could Have Been Avoided” (May 24, 2024)
