'Well-crafted, deliberate': JXN Water officials say water shutoff rumors appear targeted

As a winter storm went into a third day Thursday, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported two more storm-related deaths, bringing the total to four storm-related deaths and several zip codes in the Jackson area were under a boil water notice due to low water pressure.

During a Thursday morning press conference, JXN Water officials said the organization is not shutting off water despite misinformation circulating on social media saying otherwise that led to people filling bathtubs and overworking the system Wednesday.

Jackson Federal Third Party Water Administrator Ted Henifin provided a glimpse into what social media posts sent to JXN Water office said.

"I saw several versions," Henifin said. "I don't know what the initial posting was, but the one that seemed most damaging was a posting that essentially said, 'I heard from a JXN Water employee that works at the plant, that the plants will shut down in three to five hours tonight because of the big leaks.' And then it said, 'Not sure if it's true, but just to be on the safe side. I'm going to fill my tub.'"

Henifin said the wording led him to believe the original post might have been created in an attempt to cause problems for the city's beleaguered water system.

"That's why I think it's deliberate," Henifin said. "I mean, that is an incredibly, well-crafted message to let people think, Well, maybe there is some truth, or maybe I just need to be on the safe side. So, my personal opinion is that it was an extremely well-crafted and deliberate attempt to get folks to fill their tubs based on that limited information. And not even bothering to fact check it or source check it with our website or anywhere else."

Henifin said JXN Water is working alongside law enforcement to figure out where the initial post originated. He said no criminal charges will be filed at this time, unless the intent to sabotage JXN Water can be proven.

"It doesn't sound massive for people to fill their bathtubs. But if 25,000 residents decided to fill their bathtubs in those few hours last night, that would be the equivalent of 9 million gallons a day of water production," Henifin said. "That's basically 20% on top of our normal day, and we were already at 40% over a normal day. So, it seems very targeted, very specific and the language was very deliberate. Based on all that, I'm highly suspect."

Boil water issued, rumors circulate: Boil water notice issued in Jackson after 12,000 customers affected

Across social media, some people speculated the misinformation may have started after Jackson Municipal Waterworks in Jackson, Kentucky, announced on social media Wednesday that it would have to shut its water off for hours to perform repairs.

The Clarion Ledger reached out to JXN Water asking if the company has any knowledge that this separate incident potentially caused rumors for the City of Jackson.

JXN Water spokesperson Ameerah Palacios said, "Based off the initial review of posts we saw circulated, the separate event in another state others have called into question does not apply to our concerns. We’re looking into this, and it’s still too early to tell."

In addition to addressing the rumors, Henifin provided a comment stating, no water plants — which failed in previous years — had issues during the record low temperatures. He said the challenge now is improving the distribution system to maintain consistent water pressure for residents.

JXN Water says its plants for winter: Jackson's water plants have been winterized. This week's freeze will be the first test

The news comes after JXN Water announced "significant pipe breaks" overnight into Thursday morning due to thawing of the frozen ground after temperatures plummeted to 10 degrees Wednesday morning.

About 12,000 customers have been affected and boil-water notices have been issued for customers of the Jackson system in the following zip codes:

• 39209 — West Jackson along the 49 corridor

• 39204 — West/Central Jackson along 49 corridor to Pearl River and south on east side of 55 between 55 and the Pearl River

• 39212 — South Jackson

• 39272 — South Jackson

• 39170 — South Jackson

"Precautionary boil water notices have been issued for those areas and will remain in effect until lifted by JXN Water," a press release states.

Other storm impacts

In addition, Jackson Public Schools went virtual again on Thursday due to low-water pressure and heating issues. Henifin said JXN Water has advised JPS that the company does not believe they will be fully recovered Friday and should move forward with virtual learning.

He followed by saying that ultimately JPS will make their decision.

"I don't know when they will make any announcement along those lines, but we are not confident that we can make sure that every school has adequate water pressure by tomorrow," Henifin said.

Jackson State University officials announced Thursday the campus pivoted to virtual work and classes at 1 p.m. Thursday and will continue into Friday due to city-wide water pressure issues that are impacting campus locations and operations.

In-person extended registration will continue through Saturday for JSU.

MEMA: Four weather-related deaths

Separate of the JXN Water incident, two additional weather-related deaths have been reported to MEMA in Chickasaw County on Mississippi 15 just south of Houston. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the fatalities.

That brings the state’s total death toll to four since Sunday. MEMA previously reported two deaths, one in Humphreys and one in Sharkey counties earlier this week.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS winter storm claims 2 lives; misinformation leads to boil water notice