The Mississippi Water Crisis
The nationwide water crisis isn’t going anywhere. What can we do?
By Jade Fehlen
In August of 2022, heavy rains led to flooding along areas of the Pearl River in Jackson, Mississippi. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the flooding “crested just below the major flood stage of 36 feet.” This meant that treatment plants were unable to produce sufficient water pressure due to damage. Though water pressure was restored in Jackson on Sept. 5, there was a boil water advisory until Sept. 15, meaning that home owners could not drink water from their taps without boiling it first. The state distributed over 12 million bottles of water during this time.
Throughout Jackson, low water pressure left many without the water necessary for daily life. Homes, businesses, schools and first responders were all affected. However, restaurants were hit especially hard. In the same article, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy stated that “they were required to buy water, ice and canned soda in order to provide beverages, but there were also secondary effects. Employees were unable to shower, guest bathroom toilets could not be used, and restaurants had to find alternative ways to clean dishes. Some of these businesses ended up reducing hours or shutting down temporarily.” While some businesses reduced hours or shut down temporarily, all will continue to suffer, as potential customers are projected to have less disposable income for months to come.
Resident boiling water in kitchen. Credit: New York Times
Nationwide Water Crisis
Though this is not Jackson’s first water shortage, it is indicative of a larger nationwide water crisis. Access to safe water for all Americans has been a U.S. government goal dating back to the passage of the 1972 Clean Water Act. However, according to Scientific American, millions of people continue to face serious water quality problems due to contamination, deteriorating infrastructure and inadequate treatment at water plants.
In an experiment conducted by The Guardian and Consumer Reports (CR), in which water systems of 120 people from around the U.S. were randomly sampled, 35% had polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, levels above CR’s recommended maximum. PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are linked to learning delays in children, cancer and other serious health problems. In the same study, while almost all of the samples had detectable lead, 8% of the samples had arsenic levels above CR’s recommended maximum. This is astronomical, as The Guardian affirms, any amount of lead is unsafe.
According to Consumer Reports, in response to these findings, Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson Andrea Drinkard said that “93% of the population supplied by community water systems gets water that meets ‘all health-based standards all of the time.’”
However, many claim the government is not appropriately addressing this crisis. Upmanu Lall, a hydroclimatologist at Columbia University, said in an interview with Scientific American that the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Department of Energy are currently working on replacing fossil fuels, expanding transmission and improving reliability, but there are no departments working on the water crisis. Lall, in the same interview, argues we currently have a “piecemeal approach, such as focusing on replacing lead pipes.” Similarly, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy affirms, “Across the country, it has been clear that infrastructure is aging and poorly maintained.”
Minnesota Water Crisis
Minnesota faces water accessibility issues too. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, groundwater is the source of drinking water for about 75% of all Minnesotans. In parts of central and southwestern Minnesota, high nitrate concentrations from agriculture and failing septic systems pollute this groundwater. As is common in areas of high population, in the Twin Cities metro area, there is both chloride and nitrate pollution, as well as availability issues. Furthermore, overuse of groundwater threatens surface water quality. In Little Rock Creek just north of St. Cloud, heavy groundwater pumping has contributed to low summer stream flows, killed off fish and erupted in massive summer algae blooms downstream at Little Rock Lake.
Little Rock Creek. Credit: Midwest Hiker.
Current regulations will not be enough to maintain healthy groundwater and stop contamination in drinking water in Minnesota, says the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: “Even if all existing laws were followed to the letter, groundwater would still be subject to unacceptable levels of nutrients and other contaminants.”
What Katies Can Do
But, what can St. Kate’s students do? It turns out, quite a bit.
Katies can educate themselves and others. They can test their water and filter out toxic contaminants. They can advocate for equal, safe water access. On a micro level, they can take actions that limit their individual carbon footprints. This can look like picking up litter, recycling, not blowing leaves into the street and not pouring motor oil down storm drains. It can also look like washing cars in places where the excess cleaner can flow onto a grassy area or gravel instead of the street. On a macro level, Katies can support policies, nonprofits and other organizations like the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the U.S. Water Alliance and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
Equal, safe water access for all may seem like a far-off goal. However, it is certainly a goal worth fighting for.
