Crews at the troubled O. B. Curtis treatment plant in Jackson have obtained their original goals of increasing water pressure throughout the system, although some of that progress was depleted yesterday. While the setback did not have immediate effects on residents, it does shrink the margin for error at the facility. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba says in the past the city had success in raising water pressure and lowering boil notices amid the same challenges.
“But I think that it is critical that we don’t drop a mission accomplished banner just yet because the condition is still as we said it is, that it’s not a matter of if these systems will fail again, but when these systems will fail again if we don’t have permanent fixes in place,” says Lumumba.
The plant is currently under the guidance from city, state and federal engineers and officials.
On Monday, Governor Tate Reeves claimed administration for the city has failed to produce plans for updating water infrastructure, a sentiment which was echoed by Congressman Bennie Thompson in a report by Mississippi Today. Mayor Lumumba says the city has presented several budgetary and renovation proposals over the years, but has not had the capital to act.
Lumumba says “I shared with you that we have been in discussion with a corporation about taking over an operations and maintenance contract. But what I really delayed telling you is that that conversation stopped because they picked it up with the state. And so we’ve been unable to reach an agreement with them because we’re no longer at the table to talk about what that agreement would look like.”
He did not disclose what corporation the city has held these conversations with as the deal has not been finalized.
While Governor Reeves said on Monday he is open to the privatization of Jackson’s water treatment, Mayor Lumumba says that would be detrimental to customers.
