The Environmental Protection Agency is collecting public comments on a stipulated order to expedite sewer system repairs in the capital city. The order aims to repair emergency sewer failures at more than 200 locations. Jacksonians voiced their frustrations and concerns at a series of three meetings, with some saying that raw sewage is spilling onto their property.
Anthony Moore is a Jackson resident who says he lives in a predominantly Black neighborhood, and he fears communities like his won't get the attention they need.
“The city has put a bypass in my neighborhood that pumped sewage from my neighborhood into a Pearl River tributary, Town Creek, right outside of Hawkins Field airport… I live there,” he said. “We smell the sewage, we've been breathing it in for several years… We don't think this response is effective or efficient enough.”
The public comment period comes after Interim Third-Party Manager Ted Henefin — who has also been tasked with repairing the city's water system — was appointed to oversee sewer system repairs.
Residents like Sean Leonard are urging officials to consider long-term solutions just as heavily as short-term ones. She told officials at the meeting that Jackson's water issues were starting to remind her of those in Flint, Michigan.
“I have raw sewage coming up my driveway, it's been going on now for excess of about 4.5 years.” she said. “It's so bad that the storm water, when it fills up, the sewer fills up, the storm water… goes off into a runoff and it goes back into our sewer system.”
The public comment period is open until August 31.
