Residents in Mississippi are being ordered to boil their water after the system experienced pressure drops due to pipes bursting and freezing during Christmas.
The city of Jackson announced an order for all residents to boil their water to avoid contamination from the burst water pipes and lowered water system pressure.
“Due to the loss of system pressure, the City of Jackson Water/Sewer Utilities Division has issued a precautionary boil water advisory until further notice for ALL SURFACE WATER CONNECTIONS,” a statement read on the city’s website. “This advisory includes surface water connections in Byram and Hinds County.”
This comes months after the water system partially collapsed. In late August, there was a drop in pressure throughout Jackson as a result of problems at one of the city’s two treatment plants that had already been made worse by torrential rains and flooding of the Pearl River.
More than 150,000 people were already living in the city under a boil-water order because of the poor quality of the water.
Although a boil order was still in effect, most residents’ water pressure had been restored by the first week of September. When the water pressure was being restored, there were worries that pipes would burst.
Boil orders are currently in effect due to concerns about contaminants entering the water. The city reaffirmed that the boil order only applied to connections to surface water systems and not to connections to wells.
“The system has lost pressure due to breaks in the distribution system that have not been identified,” Jackson officials said. “Some areas may be experiencing little to no water pressure. The O.B. Curtis and J.H. Fewell Water Treatment Plants will continue to work to maximize production to restore pressure to as much of the system as possible.”
Residents in Clarkesville, Georgia, were also urged to boil their water on Christmas. Between Washington Street and Gabrels Drive, Rocky Branch Road, and Jefferson Street between Rocky Branch Road and the Clarkesville Presbyterian Church are the locations of concern.
Officials advise bringing the water to a rolling boil for two minutes and allowing it to cool before drinking.
