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Mississippi capital’s water disaster developed over decades

A trickle of water comes out of the faucet of Mary Gaines a resident of the Golden Keys Senior Living apartments in her kitchen in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Bennie Hudson, 65, executive director of the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, speaks about the inconsistency of water pressure in her west Jackson, Miss., neighborhood, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. That issue is only one of the city's longstanding water problems. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Bennie Hudson, 65, executive director of the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, stores gallon jugs of purified water in her Jackson, Miss., garage, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Hudson also boils any tap water she uses due to the city's longstanding water problems. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Bennie Hudson, 65, executive director of the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, pours boiling water into her sink before washing dishes at her Jackson, Miss., home Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Hudson boils any tap water she uses due to the city's longstanding water problems. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Mary Gaines, left, a resident of the Golden Keys Senior Living apartments gets cases of water in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Bennie Hudson, 65, executive director of the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, pours a shot of bleach into her dish washing solution at her Jackson, Miss., home Thursday morning, Sept. 1, 2022. Hudson boils any tap water she uses due to the city's longstanding water problems, but also uses bleach to help "purify" the water. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Willie Brown, right, of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation places cases of water on the chair of Diana Washington, a resident of the Golden Keys Senior Living apartments in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Bennie Hudson, 65, executive director of the Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community Renewal, demonstrates how low the water pressure was at her Jackson, Miss., home Thursday morning, Sept. 1, 2022. Hudson boils any tap water she uses due to the city's longstanding water problems. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Residents of the Golden Keys Senior Living apartments flock to a trailer full of water being delivered by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A recent flood worsened Jackson's long standing water system problems. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Sharon Epps, who lives in a rental home in the Queens neighborhood of Jackson, Miss., stores bottled water in her utility room, Aug. 17, 2022. Even when Jackson is not under a boil-water notice, Epps said she buys bottled water for her family because she doesn't trust that the water coming out of the tap is safe to drink. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Sharon Epps, who lives in a rental home in the Queens neighborhood of Jackson, Miss., holds a glass of tap water taken from her kitchen faucet, Aug. 17, 2022. Even when Jackson is not under a boil-water notice, Epps said she buys bottled water for her family because she doesn't trust that the water coming out of the tap is safe to drink. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Sharon Epps, who lives in a rental home in the Queens neighborhood of Jackson, Miss., pours out a glass of tap water taken from her kitchen, Aug. 17, 2022. Even when Jackson is not under a boil-water notice, Epps said she buys bottled water for her family because she doesn't trust that the water coming out of the tap is safe to drink. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks at a press conference regarding Jackson's ongoing water crisis at Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in Pearl, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. (Hannah Mattix/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)

A member of the Mississippi National Guard places a case of water on the scooter of Jackson resident, Keith Angeleti, as they distribute water to residents near downtown Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

A water tower emblazon with the City of Jackson, Miss., official seal looms over this north Jackson neighborhood Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems and the state Health Department has had Mississippi's capital city under a boil-water notice since late July. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

The Mississippi State Capitol dome looms over the portable toilets set up in the driveway of the state building, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in Jackson, Miss. The recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems and the state Health Department has had Mississippi's capital city under a boil-water notice since late July. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Workers at the Highway 18 Walmart distribute the last of 6,000 cases of water to long line of residents in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. A recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Jackson, Miss., Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba addresses the city's partnership with the state to help address the water crisis in the Capital city during a news conference in Jackson Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. On Monday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced state assistance to help with Jackson's water issues. (Barbara Gauntt/The Clarion-Ledger via AP)

Ty Carter, right, and Benjamin Williams, with Garrett Enterprises, fill up a five-gallon jug for an area resident from a water tanker at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The tanker, is one of two placed strategically in the city to provide residents non-potable water. The recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems and the state Health Department has had Mississippi's capital city under a boil-water notice since late July. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Mississippi capital’s water disaster developed over decades