Restoring Trust, One Drop at a Time: Jackson, Mississippi’s Water Turnaround

For years, Jackson, Mississippi, faced a growing water crisis. Aging infrastructure, chronic underinvestment, and environmental injustice left the city’s nearly 180,000 residents vulnerable to frequent boil-water notices, low pressure and unsafe drinking water. 

The crisis reached a breaking point in August 2022, when catastrophic failures at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant left much of the city without running water for days. In response, the federal government intervened, appointing a third-party manager to oversee the system’s recovery. That’s when JXN Water was formed—and Jacobs stepped in.

Since early 2023, Jacobs has played a central role in stabilizing and revitalizing Jackson’s water infrastructure. Initially brought on under a short-term operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement, Jacobs quickly implemented critical repairs, process improvements and emergency interventions to restore service reliability and water quality.

Building on that success, Jacobs was awarded a 10-year contract by JXN Water to operate and maintain the city’s water treatment system. Under this agreement, Jacobs is responsible for:

• Operating and maintaining the O.B. Curtis and J.H. Fewell water treatment plants, as well as the city’s groundwater wells, booster stations and water storage tanks.
• Providing programmatic oversight to ensure regulatory compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Leading infrastructure rehabilitation, addressing long-standing maintenance backlogs and implementing upgrades to prevent future failures.
• Supporting capital improvement planning, including design and construction oversight for long-term system sustainability.
• Developing a skilled local workforce, making sure the system is supported by trained operators, technicians and engineers from the community.

The results have been transformative:

• Water treatment capacity at the O.B. Curtis plant has increased by more than 10 million gallons per day (MGD) through membrane repairs and operational enhancements.
• Water demand—through efforts led by JXN Water’s staff—has been reduced by more than 30%, improving system reliability and lowering operational costs.
• System resilience is being strengthened through proactive maintenance and new infrastructure projects.
• Community engagement has expanded, with Jacobs and JXN Water investing in STEAM education, mentoring programs and local support initiatives.

While Jackson’s water system still faces challenges, the transformation underway is undeniable. In just over a year, what was once a symbol of systemic failure is becoming a model of resilience, innovation and community-centered recovery.

This progress is not the result of a single fix—it’s the outcome of a bold, sustained partnership. With Jacobs’ technical leadership and long-term commitment, and JXN Water’s mission-driven oversight, Jackson is not just repairing its water system—it’s rebuilding public trust, restoring dignity and laying the foundation for a healthier, more equitable future.

The work in Jackson proves that with the right expertise, investment and willpower, even the most entrenched infrastructure crises can be overcome. Now, with JXN Water nominated for Public Water Agency of the Year at the 2025 Global Water Awards, Jackson’s journey is being recognized on the world stage as a model of what’s possible when purpose meets partnership.

For cities facing similar challenges globally, Jackson stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when people come together to protect one of our most vital resources: water.