A large pump at Jackson’s main water treatment facility was damaged and the city is using backup pumps, Gov. Tate Reeves said during a news conference. Until it is fixed, there will be no reliable running water in Jackson, affecting up to 180,000 people. The city won’t be able to produce enough water for serious needs, such as fighting fires and flushing toilets, Reeves said. All Jackson Public Schools will switch to virtual learning Tuesday because of the water shortage, the school district announced. “We will continue to closely monitor water conditions on a daily basis in our schools while speaking with city officials to determine when scholars and staff can safely return to in-person learning,” the district said. No timeline was given for when the main pump will be repaired. Officials will distribute potable and non-potable water to residents, Reeves said. Hinds County Emergency Management Operations Deputy Director Tracy Funches, right, and Operations Coordinator Luke Chennault walk through floodwaters as they check water levels in neighborhoods located near the Pearl River in northeast Jackson, Miss., August 29, 2022. Rogelio V. Solis/AP On Friday, the governor was told that Jackson would not be able to produce enough water for all its residents. Reeves is in the process of declaring a state of emergency, which will allow state officials to better help Jackson. On Twitter, the city said it was not cutting off water to its residents, saying the water shortage was expected to last a few days. The governor declared a state of emergency Saturday for parts of central Mississippi hit by heavy flooding that forced residents to evacuate. Mississippi has begun emergency maintenance and repair of Jackson’s water system. Officials are warning city residents not to drink the water because it is raw water from the reservoirs pushed through the pipes. ABC News’ Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.
