Water utility crews across the country deploy to support operations in Jackson, Miss. November 2, 2022Connections Article, Publications Dozens of water utility professionals have been traveling back and forth to Jackson, Miss., to help with recovery water system operations following presidential and gubernatorial emergency declarations in August. These declarations were issued following severe flooding on the Pearl River that impacted operations at both drinking water plants in the City of Jackson. The shared utility support has been coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) with national outreach facilitated by the Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN). According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), more than 70 individuals from 14 states participated in the recovery efforts. The network of mutual assistance that includes state WARNs was established in the 2000s to rapidly coordinate mutual aid and emergency relief efforts and dispatch qualified personnel during emergencies. Utilities from Arizona, Arkansas, Maryland, Ohio, and South Carolina responded to the EMAC assistance requests. “An exceptional level of support has been provided by multiple utility crews and in some cases individuals, who have been deployed on two-week missions in an effort to restore Jackson’s water systems to fully functional,” said Kevin Morley, AWWA’s federal relations manager. The ongoing water crisis in Jackson has impacted approximately 150,000 residents with weeks of boil-water advisories. This most recent incident is the latest in an ongoing series of challenges facing the city’s drinking water quality. In July 2021, EPA issued an Administrative Order to address multiple Safe Drinking Water Act compliance deficiencies noted during prior inspections, including operational and maintenance concerns. The flooding that damaged a major pumping unit at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant, the city’s main water treatment facility, was a tipping point that had cascading impacts on the system’s ability to maintain service. This led to the emergency declarations. EMAC and WARN are coordinating the temporary assignments of electricians, maintenance workers, operators, instrument technicians and mechanics to the Curtis Water Plant, as well as the J.H. Fewell Plant. In addition to the flood damage, both of the water treatment facilities have experienced staffing shortages. MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney stated in an Oct. 14 press release, “Staffing has been a critical issue at these facilities, and we are ready to move to the next phase of stabilizing Jackson’s water services. Our top priority is life safety.” At the request of federal partners, MEMA issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) seeking a 12-month emergency procurement contract for staffing operations, maintenance and management of OB Curtis Water Treatment Facility, JH Fewell Water Treatment Facility, tanks, and well facilities. A similar but separate request for proposals (RFP) for water utility staffing support was also issued by the City of Jackson. Water utilities sending crews to Jackson include Greater Cincinnati Water Works in Ohio, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Ann Arundel County in Maryland, Mount Pleasant and Spartanburg in South Carolina, Surprise in Arizona, and Central Arkansas Water.