United States: Soldiers in fatigue have been called to aid as a crisis has left many residents of the capital Mississippi without access to drinking water. They are using forklifts and diggers to unload massive pallets of bottled water for distribution to people in dire need.
Water scarcity has been an ongoing problem in Jackson, where 80 percent of residents are black and poverty is rampant. However, it is particularly bad, with many locals left without access to clean, running water for almost a week.
Operations of an important but old water treatment plant were disrupted for several days by significant flooding.
So, when residents turn on the water, brown water – which is still unsafe to drink after boiling – sometimes comes out under very low pressure.
According to Mary Jones, 55, a resident of Jackson, "The water in my house is running very slowly. There is a terrible situation all over the city.
Jones, a disabled widow, said, "Nobody knew how to fix the issue. This has been going on for years, but now that the White House is involved, hopefully we can get some fresh, clean running water again." Can get it."
I shouldn't have experienced it, I guess.
Actually, Washington has taken cognizance of this issue. The federal government has pledged resources to assist Mississippi in resolving the crisis.
Major repairs are being made, but for the time being, people must rely on bottled water that is piled long on pallets.
Bus driver Natina Thompson, 41, said, "I can't cook the way I want to cook, and I haven't been able to brush my teeth like I want to.
He expressed his "eternal gratitude" that the National Guard and others were now offering assistance.
Mary Jones claimed that she visits several places throughout the city to collect enough water to help elderly residents who are unable to leave their homes.
You know, that's what we do in Mississippi, so you need to make sacrifices for our neighbors, she said. "We support each other and stand together in any situation."
Long queues of people slowly appeared in their cars waiting to get water.
Many compared it to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, between 2014 and 2016. Due to poor management and neglect, the city's water supply was dangerously contaminated with lead.
Tracy Edwards, a retiree who accuses city officials of being to blame for this mess, said, "I hope we don't be like Flint."
We cannot consume it. We cannot use it to brush our teeth. Edwards said, "I'm wondering if there's anything dangerous in the water, which over time could affect the residents of Jackson.
We need to be aware of this, she said.
The largest city in Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the union, is Jackson. The tax base dwindled over the years as more wealthy white residents moved to the suburbs, contributing to the city's struggling finances. A quarter of Jackson's population now lives in poverty.
One resident, who asked not to use her name, gave details of her normal day.
I have grandchildren and kids, so I need some water. I'm out this summer and trying to get over it because of it.
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