Posted on Sep 7, 2022
The crisis in Jackson shows how climate change is threatening water supplies
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https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/ [login to see] /jackson-mississippi-water-crisis-climate-change
The crisis that has hit Jackson, Miss., highlights the fragility of water systems across the country that will be increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the coming years.
As rainfall of historic proportions flooded Mississippi's Pearl River, a key pump at the O.B. Curtis water treatment plant, which provides the capital city with its drinking water, was unable to keep up, causing a severe drop in water pressure. Some 150,000 residents were left without safe drinking water. Although water pressure has been restored, a boil-water notice remains in effect.
Historic flooding and record droughts are already stressing water systems across the country, but as the threats to infrastructure posed by climate change intensify, experts warn that what happened in Jackson may be just the beginning.
The crisis that has hit Jackson, Miss., highlights the fragility of water systems across the country that will be increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the coming years.
As rainfall of historic proportions flooded Mississippi's Pearl River, a key pump at the O.B. Curtis water treatment plant, which provides the capital city with its drinking water, was unable to keep up, causing a severe drop in water pressure. Some 150,000 residents were left without safe drinking water. Although water pressure has been restored, a boil-water notice remains in effect.
Historic flooding and record droughts are already stressing water systems across the country, but as the threats to infrastructure posed by climate change intensify, experts warn that what happened in Jackson may be just the beginning.
The crisis in Jackson shows how climate change is threatening water supplies
Posted from npr.org
Jackson
Climate Change
Water
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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My understanding of this from a friend who now lives here but used to be down there is that the City of Jackson is in the position they are in because of underinvestment in their water system. They have rejected the necessary investment until the failure occurred. The city's water lines are as much as 100 years old.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Hara blames climate change and systemic disinvestment in water infrastructure across the country.
"It's a huge issue and it's got lots of different dimensions," says Steven Buchberger, a professor at the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science.
How decades of disinformation about fossil fuels halted U.S. climate policy
CLIMATE
How decades of disinformation about fossil fuels halted U.S. climate policy
He says facilities that "are decades old and have been neglected" are often especially vulnerable to the challenges posed by climate change.
"In many instances, communities didn't really do the proper maintenance that was required to keep updating the infrastructure," he says.
In Jackson alone, some estimates put the cost to repair the city's water system in the billions. But that is still just a fraction of the challenge on the national level. A 2020 study estimates that $2.2 trillion needs to be invested over the next two decades to address the infrastructure shortfalls. Much of it will need to come from the federal government, according to the study."...
..."Hara blames climate change and systemic disinvestment in water infrastructure across the country.
"It's a huge issue and it's got lots of different dimensions," says Steven Buchberger, a professor at the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science.
How decades of disinformation about fossil fuels halted U.S. climate policy
CLIMATE
How decades of disinformation about fossil fuels halted U.S. climate policy
He says facilities that "are decades old and have been neglected" are often especially vulnerable to the challenges posed by climate change.
"In many instances, communities didn't really do the proper maintenance that was required to keep updating the infrastructure," he says.
In Jackson alone, some estimates put the cost to repair the city's water system in the billions. But that is still just a fraction of the challenge on the national level. A 2020 study estimates that $2.2 trillion needs to be invested over the next two decades to address the infrastructure shortfalls. Much of it will need to come from the federal government, according to the study."...
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Chip...I am originally from that area and I can speak to this. It has nothing to do with climate change et al. It has everything to do with the elected leadership of that city over the last thirty years. They are all corrupt and mismanaged the funds of the city to include the public works upgrades like water. If you were to drive through the city and I have very recently you had better have good shocks as the roads are unbelievable, the infrastructure is falling down around them, and the crime rate is so high that folks I know that live in the area say if they have to go into Jackson, they carry...no question. The folks elected live posh lives as the citizens suffer. Folks with any sense left Jackson over the last 15 or so years while the getting was good.
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