Jackson Council talks about lead in city water
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Jackson City councilmen have questions about what officials are doing to address high levels of lead in residents’ drinking water and one wants to declare a state of emergency.
The Clarion-Ledger reports Councilman De’Keither Stamps was unsuccessful in passing through an emergency declaration during a council meeting Wednesday.
In January, the state health officials notified the city that 22 percent of a water sample taken from homes in June tested above actionable levels of lead, some as high as 128 parts per billion.
The city maintains that the problem can be attributed to old, unsafe plumping materials in individuals’ homes while it reports that samples taken from the same homes in January have tested significantly lower.
Jackson’s public works director addressed the council to ensure its members that the city is working to improve its system.
