Chokwe Lumumba: Latest News

JACKSON, Miss. - Roughly 150,000 people are still without safe drinking water in Mississippi’s capital city days after Jackson’s water system partially failed. The situation is so dire, Mississippi officials are telling residents to shower with their mouths closed."You can shower or bathe, but please make sure in the shower that your mouth is not open," Jim Craig, Mississippi’s Director of Health Protection, said at a Wednesday news conference.The city water system partially failed early this week after Pearl River flooding exacerbated longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants.Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said Jackson’s water system is troubled by short staffing and "decades of deferred maintenance." He said the influx of water from torrential rain changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, which slowed the process of pushing water out to customers.A city news release said the main water-treatment plant had "challenges with water chemistry" Wednesday, which led to a drop in output of water.