Read It and Weep

476,541,680 gallons of raw sewage leaked directly to the Pearl River from one location at 408 Jefferson St, Jackson during the heavy rain and flood events of the first 3 months of 2020.  The largest single-day discharge occurred on January 11 when 6,831,520 gallons of raw sewage flowed from the Jefferson St manhole to the Pearl and then downriver.  This is enough raw sewage released in ONE DAY to fill 10 Olympic swimming pools.

• Days in Jan-Mar 2020 when more than 100,000 gallons of raw sewage leaked from Jefferson Street:  14
• Days when City of Jackson, MDEQ or EPA issued a warning or advisory to the public or downstream communities:  0

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During the same quarter of Jan-Mar 2020, 36 additional Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) discharges to "Waters of the State" occurred and prohibited bypasses at the Savanna Street Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) released 5.7 billion gallons of minimally treated sewage to the Pearl.  
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Is public notification required during a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) event?

• According to City of Jackson Sewer Overflow Response Plan (SORP), City of Jackson will issue a news release and place temporary signs in the area of the overflow whenever an overflow creates a "significant health hazard" or "significant volume has reached waters of the US and/or State".  Additional notification will be considered in conjunction with MDEQ and HCHD.  
• During Jan-Mar 2020, the City of Jackson did not issue a single press release warning the public or downstream communities of the health and safety hazards of millions of gallons of raw sewage headed their way.  
• Currently, the only avenue the public has to learn about a SSO in their neighborhood or upriver is to wait one month after the end of the last quarter and then access the Quarterly Report posted on the City of Jackson website. 
• In Spring 2019, after lobbying by Pearl Riverkeeper, MDEQ issued a Water Contact Advisory for the Pearl River and Other Streams in the Jackson Area, the first advisory issued since 2013.  This Advisory remains in effect one year later.  During Jan-Mar 2020, MDEQ declined to re-issue or remind citizens about the Water Contact Advisory or otherwise notify the public of the catastrophic sewage overflows occurring in Jackson.  MDEQ also declined to require the City of Jackson to report the overflows or comply with the procedures listed in its own SORP.  No fines were levied by MDEQ against City of Jackson for failure to comply with reporting requirements.  MDEQ also declined to revise the City of Jackson's SORP to specify the amount of sewage that constitutes a "significant health hazard" or "significant volume" or otherwise develop procedures to improve reporting compliance by City of Jackson.

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THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE ARE BEING RELEASED TO WATERS OF THE STATE AND TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. 

Sign our Sewage Spill "Right to Know" Petition

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​What is a a Sanitary Sewer Overflow?
A Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) is an event in which untreated sewage is discharged from the sewage collection system into the environment prior to reaching the sewage treatment facilities.  These discharges endanger human health, cause property damage, and degrade our local water quality. ​

• Health impacts: Sewage spills contain bacteria, viruses, and a host of other pathogens.  Health hazards range from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to more serious illnesses such as Hepatitis and Dysentery. 
• Environmental impacts: Since 1996, the entire "Jackson Segment" of the Pearl River has been listed by MDEQ as "impaired" for nutrients/organic enrichment and low dissolved oxygen.  The "Jackson Segment" is not meeting even the lowest MDEQ water quality standards for aquatic life support or contact recreation.  The City of Jackson is rendering this entire section of the river unusable. 

What causes SSO events? 
The SSO events experienced by the City of Jackson collection system were caused by excessive flow,  collapsed pipes, grease/fat buildup, and blockages from roots and solids.  According to the Jan-Mar 2020  Quarterly Report, "The Jackson area received 29.74" of rainfall, or 105% above normal during the reporting period.  Also during January and February 2020, the Pearl River was at or above flood action stage of 24 feet for 44 days.  It should also be noted that the Pearl River reached a peak level of 36.67 feet on February 17, 2020, which is the third highest historical peak ever recorded.  During this period, the system experienced a dramatic increase in inflow.  Aerial inspection by the Mississippi Department of Emergency Management and the City of Jackson noted several damaged manholes that allowed floodwaters to enter the collection system." 
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EPA Consent Decree
In November 2012, the Jackson City Council entered into a consent decree with the EPA and MDEQ regarding operations at the Savanna Street Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The consent decree required the City to pay a civil penalty of $437,916, execute a $875,000 environmental project, and overhaul its wastewater treatment plant and collection systems.  The City was given 18 years to fully comply, with the vast majority of the work to be completed within the next 11 years (by 2023).  The City of Jackson was required to develop prioritization work plans, rehabilitation plans, preventative maintenance programs and supplemental environmental program timelines.  The City is required to submit quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports to the EPA and must publish these on their website.  
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Recent Yearly Sewage Overflow Totals
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2018:

• 180 SSOs to Waters of the State:  5.9 million gallons
• Prohibited bypass from Savannah Street WWTF: 3.2 billion gallons

2019:

• 169 SSOs to Waters of the State:  33.6 million gallons
• Prohibited bypass from Savannah Street WWTF: 5.5 billion gallons

First Quarter 2020

• 57 SSOs to Waters of the State: 476.5 million gallons
• Prohibited bypass from Savannah Street WWTF: 5.7 billion gallons

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Read the Jan-Mar 2020 Quarterly Report

Where have the City of Jackson 2020 SSO events to Waters of the State occurred?  ​
Check out our interactive map below to find out if a SSO event that released sewage to Waters of the State occurred in your City of Jackson neighborhood. Click on the pinned locations for information about the date, location, cause of the overflow, and amount of untreated sewage released.  Large Scale Map Link

View larger map