A Turning Point for Jackson, Mississippi’s Water System

For years, Jackson, Mississippi’s O.B. Curtis and J.H. Fewell water treatment plants (WTPs) struggled with chronic failures. Aging infrastructure, a lack of funding and a shortage of trained operators and maintenance staff left the city without a reliable source of safe drinking water.. By 2015, the city’s water system exceeded federal levels for lead under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule, triggering violations and further eroding public confidence. The system was then placed under an EPA consent order, requiring close monitoring and corrective action. 

In 2023, Jacobs and JXN Water teamed up to operate and maintain the WTPs with a clear mission: stabilize Jackson’s water system, restore compliance, rebuild public trust and provide the community with safe drinking water. 

Overcoming compliance challenges

Restoring compliance required tackling the system’s toughest issues head-on:

• Disinfection by-products: Jackson’s water contains unusually high organic content, complicating treatment. The team optimized coagulant dosing and tested other coagulants to achieve optimal removal rates. After recalibration, the plants returned to compliance within months.  
• Lead and Copper: Long-standing lead and copper violations were resolved by working with regulators to set realistic compliance goals aligned with federal standards. With corrosion control upgrades and new treatment processes, the system achieved compliance by mid-2025, ending a decade of struggle.
• Distribution system repairs: Beyond the plants, JXN Water repaired leaks and breaks and adjusted valves, while Jacobs installed automatic flushers to keep water quality optimal. Combined with plant improvements, these efforts restored compliance across the entire system.

• Workforce support: Jacobs and JXN Water focused on empowering staff with training, tools and resources. This investment in people proved just as critical as infrastructure upgrades.

“Collectively, these efforts corrected deficiencies, reduced violations and restored simultaneous compliance with all state and federal regulations,” says Jacobs Water Quality Manager Lenore Holmes. “The key was investing wisely and creating the conditions for Jackson’s own workforce to succeed. Many of the same staff who endured past failures are now leading the turnaround.”

The turnaround has reshaped life in Jackson: 

• Safe, reliable drinking water is now a reality, with households receiving consistent, compliant water free from lead and copper concerns.
• Staff morale has increased, no longer weighed down by violation notices.
• Residents face fewer disruptions in service and an overall improvement in water pressure.
• Businesses once hesitant to invest now see a compliant, dependable system, removing barriers to growth.

Project Manager Amy McLeod emphasizes, “JXN Water and Jacobs didn’t just restore compliance — we rebuilt pride, trust and hope in a system residents rely on every day. By empowering local staff and being transparent, we’re strengthening the bond between the utility and the community to create lasting change.”

Looking ahead

Challenges remain, but the progress demonstrates that, with proper investment and oversight, infrastructure can be brought back into compliance with state and federal standards.