Pearl River Water Advisory

A water advisory remains in effect for parts of the Pearl River.  Sewage may have leaked-in and contaminated the water.  Mississippi’s Department of Environmental Quality is testing water sample - results should be back next week.

The advisory applies to the Big Creek from Raymond Road in Jackson downstream to the Pearl River below Byram.  Sewage from two overflowing manholes in southwest Jackson may have spilled into the Big Creek.

A broken pumping station on McCluer Road couldn’t handle the excess water, causing the manholes to overflow.

“The pump is 18 years old, and if we can’t buy parts for it, then we may have to replace it,“ said Public Works Deputy Director David Wills. 

The city contracts pump maintenance to a private company - Severn Trent Services.  Service technician Willie Wilson was of the workers who tried to unclog the broken pump, which was full of trash and rain water.

“The rain can cause quite a bit of problems, especially in the low lying places,“ he said.  “If you get above an inch and a half, a lot of the water will infiltrate the system and cause a few problems.“

One the pipes overflowing with sewage was next to a Jackson Fire Station on Siwell Road.  Firefighters say they’ve seen water gush several feet from the ground, leaving raw sewage and toilet paper to seep into the creek, which flows into the Pearl River. 

Experts say they’ll lift the water advisory ban when water sampling shows acceptable bacteria levels.  The current advisory is in addition to an existing warning that was issued in April for the Pearl River from Lakeland Drive to Byram.