'A long time coming': Sewer lines to be replaced in two Jackson subdivisions, mayor announces

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As sewer woes plague Jackson residents, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced Monday that the city has been approved for funds to replace sewer lines in two Jackson subdivisions that have long experienced problems.

The city's sewer system has led to tens of millions of gallons of untreated wastewater flowing into Jackson-area waterways, with much of that ending up in the Pearl River, and neighborhoods have seen raw sewage flow down their streets in recent months.

The Queens and Country Club subdivisions will see "just about every sewer line" replaced, if everything goes to plan, City Engineer Robert Lee said during the mayor's weekly news conference.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba gives an update on the state of water treatment issues in the city during a news conference at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Ridgeland, Miss., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba gives an update on the state of water treatment issues in the city during a news conference at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Ridgeland, Miss., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.

"We have received calls from residents in the Queens subdivision, and we want them to know that we hear their concerns and that we are working on it. In fact, there are improvements coming, that is already slated for a state revolving loan fund that has been approved," Lumumba said. "Until that project is fulfilled, they will not see the improvements that they are ultimately in need of. What we will do is continue to send crews out to mitigate that challenge until the larger replacement, or the larger repair, can be accomplished."

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Lee said the city is working with the state's department of environmental quality to replace the sewer lines. While plans are not final, Lee said the project's cost "will easily be north of $10 million" and will utilize the state revolving loan fund. Work will begin early next year after a bidding process, but no timetable is yet available for completion.

"This is going to be a major investment in these two neighborhoods, with the replacement of the old sewer lines that were originally installed when those neighborhoods were built and putting in new modern sewer lines," Lee said. "I think the folks in Queens will be excited for it. I know it's a long time coming, and it is one of our top priorities given the volume of sewer calls and sewer complaints coming from the Queens."

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, left, listens, as city engineer Robert Lee addresses the media during an update on the state of water treatment issues in the city during a news conference at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Ridgeland, Miss., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, left, listens, as city engineer Robert Lee addresses the media during an update on the state of water treatment issues in the city during a news conference at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Ridgeland, Miss., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.

Lumumba also addressed the city's ongoing boil water notices, as the most recent notice has now reached two weeks. The mayor said the city has 120 water testing sites throughout Jackson, and that the state Department of Health requires all of them to have low turbidity results for two consecutive days before the advisory can end. For at least the last week, Lumumba said, the city has seen days where all of them tested at acceptable levels, followed by a day where just one tested above the acceptable level.

Additionally, repairs to a pump that would have improved water pressure levels were delayed, after the mayor had previously said he hoped them to be completed by the end of last week. While there is no firm timeline, the mayor said work to get that pump online continues and they hope to have it online by the end of this week.

Flocculators used to clear any debris from the water now sits beneath the nearly-completed weatherization cover at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Ridgeland, Miss., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. The structure was built in response to the hard freeze last winter that shut down most of the plant.
Flocculators used to clear any debris from the water now sits beneath the nearly-completed weatherization cover at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant in Ridgeland, Miss., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. The structure was built in response to the hard freeze last winter that shut down most of the plant.

"We are in an ongoing state of emergency, even when we are not facing a boil water notice or reduced pressure, as we are at this time," Lumumba said.

The city continues to distribute free bottled water daily, the locations for which vary but can be found on the city's website. The mayor could not provide a number for what distribution costs the city, but said the water comes from donations.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson Mayor announces sewer repairs and boil water notice updates