Jackson Jambalaya

I'd like Henifin to explain how property value based billing would prevent a situation like this.

Transparency, anyone? Right?

They were waiting to see if it was serious.

To save you all the time, 5 million gallons a day for just 6 years = 10,950,000,000 total gallons.

In Jackson MS laziness and stupidity are the same thing as racism. Just ask all the Democrats.

Don't worry about it. They take the total cost of treatment and transportation, including this leak, and divide it up among the paying users so you can just pay extra for water you didn't use.

If this is true, wouldn't Colonial be a swamp at this point?

Seems unlikely...

My rough math has that at about an $85M loss over 6 years.

They should leave the leak unrepaired as it is helping dilute further downstream the massive amounts of untreated raw sewage the criminally serial polluter Jackson is dumping into the Pearl River.

At least the 5 million gal/day leak ran across a closed golfcourse into a creek and not across someone's yard and down the middle of a city street, gouging never to be repaired potholes as it created a new river basin in the city.

See, it is possible to find some level of good news in each problem Jackson encounters and ignores.

I'd be curious to know who all at the City was notified of the leak, how often the leak was reported, and who made the decision to ignore it and waste that much water.

10:24, it is. Rim shot

looks like you can see the results from space, near the back of the property, just as she describes in the article. Purple Creek gets huge. I'm not surprised the city ignored it even after it was reported. They left a concrete light pole on the side of the road for at least that long, added an additional wooden light pole (replacing neither) until a construction company had to work in that area and they hauled them off.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3840538,-90.1232041,237m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is a comical find after press reports months ago quoted Comrade Ted openly quizzical that there must be big leaks in the system, somewhere, due to the lengthy time it took to re-pressurize after an OBC event. Yarber should have fixed it right away but the fact that Lumumba has allowed the leak to run for 6 years is emblematic of his total incompetence as an executive.

Was only a matter of time before the Lumumba family sycophants and black victimization front organizations emerged with their long knives for Henifin as we've seen this past week.

But it's the pipe that supplies South Jackson. No wonder they go without water for weeks. Do they not think this is an issue. What a bunch of idiots.

The Colonial Golf Club water empties into the same creek that the Colonial Circle/Adkins bridge collapsed into three years ago and still sits in as if bombed. COJ previously passed budgeting for repair, then let the budgeting expire, now have again budgeted, $650K this time, to replace it.

If the bridge were operable, both the Fire Dept near the West end of Adkins and the Police precinct near the East end could better protect taxpaying citizens in the area. But no, Jackson's little emperor misdirected millions for his pet project, the effing Zoo, out in West Blightville.

There is lots of CYA/finger pointing taking place, right?

It's only water.........and money. Kingfish, it is absolutely believable knowing that we are talking about Jacktown. If this is not the best example of the total incompetence of Jackson's leadership, then I don't know what else is. As Kim Wade would say.....if this is the best that they can do, I'd hate to see the worst!!

Can one-note Franklin find a systemic racism angle in this seven year old pipe break?

Was there a NEJackson conspiracy to deprive these millions of gallons from Jackson's majority?

Jackson, Mississippi is the real Comedy Central. I bet Chokwe's lines be straight though. You can't make this shit up!

How long has that $400K salary water equity dude been on the job drawing his paycheck?

This is embarrassing on so many levels. The exacerbation of the water crises that continue to make national news. The further highlighting of the utter incompetence of the city leadership. The neglect of property that could be developed but is instead left to return to wilderness. The frustration of the citizenry to the point that they give up on help from the administration. The total disregard for the residents, 80% of whom are minorities, who must contend with a lack of services and potential health issues.

I remember when Lumumba was running on a platform to make Jackson a "Civil Rights City" and the "most radical city on earth". I wasn't sure exactly what he meant by those phrases, but now it is evident that it doesn't include city management, nor caring about the voters.

Best I can tell it means using the office to further his own personal goals while ignoring the people who need his help.

@19:24 - no, it wouldn't. Pay attention to the details - all of which are provided in the CL article.

The leak is near the old #4 - where a bridge goes across Purple Creek. OK, granted, the article did not name Purple Creek, it just said a drainage ditch. But, for those familar with the area, that would be Purple Creek - the same drainage structure where the bridge crossing it on Colonial Circle on the north side of the old Colonial has been closed for three years now, waiting for the city to repair it.

Purple Creek is a significant drainage canal, carrying water to the Pearl to its East. The 5 MGD pouring out of the city's transmission line was a benefit to those downstream, as it added plenty of water to the Pearl so that where the sewer overflows were polluting the Pearl (at Eubanks Creek, and at the Savanah Street treatment plant). But flooding Colonial - no way. If it had been further south, it might have caused more damage, but where it was, the water went straight into the 'big ditch'. As they say in the NBA, no harm, no foul.

Somebody with the city is always coming up on retirement. It's easier to kick the can down the road and delay until the person retires and let somebody else have the hot potato problem. Such delaying tactics can only work when there is no oversight. Obviously there is no significant oversight in Jackson's public works dept. Some pesky problems are not just ignored they're avoided. Such matters are simply not this Administration's priority.

Alert to the groups whining and screaming about outside control and the sin of hiring out of town companies. Maybe, just maybe, these thing are necessary because the local powers that be have neither the desire nor the ability to repair a severely broken system.

@11:04
"Chokwe's lines be sraight" up his nose, 'cause he must be HIGH to think anyone with half a brain is buying his bullshit at this point.

I can't wait to see Chokwe somehow blame this on racism. Also, go check out the NY Times article on Facebook and see all the liberal comments blaming it on Mississippi's Republican governor. It's amazing how blinded some people are.

And Teddy Bear has only two people chasing down leaks! He and Antar a twin sons of different mothers.

Bumble just getting a head start on One Lake Project. He’s always three steps ahead of y’all.

Glad to see the NYT and Ms. Fowler following up and digging deeper, telling the truth about the Lumumba administration.

water water everywhere and not a drop to drink

5,000,000 gallons of water per day is a lot of F'ing water to be losing. And no one but the property owner noticed it?

after repairs, increased water pressure will rupture additional pipes

I am rarely speechless, but here we are.

Ted Henifin has a burr in his saddle to close Fewell. I get that from a business perspective but, short term, wouldn't a mothballing be the more cautious approach? Fewell has been the bacon saver and I'm leery that the various problems with OB Curtis aren't not far enough away in the rear view mirror. But, maybe the gross mismanagement of OB Curtis was, and has been, the key issue all along. Closing Fewell will help with operational cash flow but the long tent pole that Ten Henifin keeps avoiding remains the billing system.

It gets more pathetic each day, but word of this will never reach our lawmakers nor the Wall Street Woke. They'll just continue to bleat racism and ship billions to flush down the toilet with the COJ Civilizational Incompetencyship.

I watched the Yearling on TCM yesterday and Jane Wyman only wanted a water well in front of her cabin in 1833. Like that was the greatest gift she could ever get. She said, "I would not have to worry so much if I slouched some water out of the bucket if I had my own well". People really don't know how well off they are today.

Assuming the water was properly chlorinated, this discharge likely violates the permit issued to the plant under NDPES.

Failing to report?


Likely a criminal matter?

This needs to be studied more before such a claim can be made. How do we know the rate of water flow was consistent in this manner?

5M Gallons a day is approx. 7.5 olympic sized swimming pools. The article suggests "a swimming pool size" hole was made but the velocity would far outpace the effect of just one swimming pool.

IF you read the whole article, there are more leaks... like "One of the leaks is spewing water 30 feet in the air like a geyser and losing the city as much as one million gallons a day" AND the CITY knew about the big one...biggest one SINCE 2016 and it was RE-REPORTED a few years ago by landowner. This is not IGNORANCE, this is CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE affecting the life and health of the city. Why aren't there arrests??
Speechless? We should all be rioting at city hall demanding an end to this death by dereliction.
Hello,...hellOoo!! Can anybody hear me?

I have occasionally wondered what became of The Clarion's Miz Fowler. She never was an honest reporter and I'm hesitant to believe anything she writes. I'll stand by for independent corroboration if you don't mind.

Sarah Fowler reported in the New York Times yesterday:
WOW! Someone needs to, give her a finder fee. She al0one has done more to save Jackson millions of dollars by reporting this. Why o Why can't we have good reporting like this in Jackson???

2:02 - 'Good Reporting'? Look back 4-12 years ago when Fowler was the protege of the then ex-democrat party executive grand foo-bah, publisher of the Clarion. He's now head of the Tupelo Daily Journal. Both of them are blinded by their buy-in to liberal nonsense, then and now.

She obviously stumbled across this water situation as a result of someone else's work. It's my opinion that she's never done an honest day's work in her life.

5 million gallons per day equals 3472 gallons per minute. Most of Jackson's fire engines are 1500gpm. So over two fire engines pumping full blast 24/7.

Anybody who read the Audit report on the City of Jackson should not be surprised by this “over-sight”. Everything in the City is mismanaged and its leadership is totally inept. It’s only a matter or time before Bankruptcy will be filed. Take your losses and get out assuming you can find someone to buy your house. Any price is better than what the future wholes for prices.

"...The neglect of property that could be developed but is instead left to return to wilderness. ..." March 24, 2023 at 11:18 AM

Why knock the one positive in this whole situation? Woodlands and wilderness are VALUABLE ASSETS. Among many other things, woodlands are nice to look at. Most of us pay extra, to have views of woodlands. Tracts of cheaply-constructed/badly-designed Midcentury Contemporary spec houses - particularly badly-maintained ones, and those without landscaping, are NOT pleasant to behold.

Let the land HEAL itself! It doesn't cost anything, to just let it happen, the way nature intended.

Is there a device that's monitoring the leak that determines 5 million gallons of water is being lost everyday? No source is cited for the "estimated" 5 million gallons. Maybe it's more or less? Just curious where the figure comes from - No doubt it could well be accurate, it's Jackson after all.

For reference, the Fewell plant is authorized to produce up to 20 million gallons/day. Curtis is authorized to produce up to 50 million gallons/day. I think during the last "Crisis" they were producing a combined 40 million gallons/day. So this leak was accounting for ~12.5% of the "clean" water they were producing. Also worth noting.... Looks like that Chief Experience Officer they were touting is no longer listed on the JXN Water website.

Free the water! (At least at the Old Colonial Country Club).

Who was in charge when this major leak started? The three stooges? Lennie and Squiggy?

And people wonder why the state legislature won't write Jackson a check with no strings attached...

General Grant would be impressed by Jackson’s water department. No way he could have diverted that much water around Vicksburg.

I’m a contractor working in Hattiesburg and I slipped up and told someone I am based in Jackson. It’s embarrassing to say what their thoughts are of Jackson. I’m moving. It’s just too damn embarrassing to have any connection to this democrat Marxist city.

Well, there goes a large contributor to the One Lake boondoggle. Hehe...ohoh...

Stock it with fish and sell tickets.

Sarah Fowler and Sam Hall are both great journalists. I’m a Republican.

12:50 You are right and in every other place persons are convicted & charged as EPA used to be a great Environmental Agency who cared about those in harms way! Any person in administration working for the Mayor can be charged as well if they turned a blind eye. This is NOT Political; this is about lives. Erin Brochovich is a great example of what families suffered with in their health. Yet the Mayor won’t accept blame for “Doing the Right Thing, Right”! No excuse anymore.

The retail value of that water (if sold at Jackson water rates) is over $21,000 per day.

4:37pm

There does not need to be a device installed to estimate. One would simply measure the size of the break... the opening.

For instance, if the size of the opening at the break was 4.5" and the average pipe pressure was 70psi, that would be about 5M gallons per day.

Sarah Fowler and Sam Hall are both great journalists. I’m a Republican.

March 24, 2023 at 8:14 PM
-------------------------------

Belly-roll here! Neither of them has ever written a kind word about conservatives or republicans. You're a republican like Delbert's a republican.

But, while you're fabricating, link one piece of 'great journalism' either has ever produced. Your turn.

"Assuming the water was properly chlorinated, this discharge likely violates the permit issued to the plant under NDPES."

The last time I checked, NPDES permits are issued only for wastewater and stormwater discharges. Potable water supply facilities do not have those permits, except relating to waste streams from water treatment plants. So, no violation.

There are some absolutely fantastic quotes in this story that are indicative of how incompetent the water system has been run in the past and, unfortunately, how the current "water czar" is upholding that tradition. Honorable mention goes to the Clarion Ledger writer for reasons set forth below.

#1 on the list (not by incompetence, but in order written in the story) - “The size of the leak is probably not uncommon,” said Jordan Hillman, chief operating officer of JXN Water, the management company formed last year to lead Jackson’s effort to stabilize its water service.

Criticism of #1 - Six months in for the water czar and a leak in a 48-inch pipe which would serve one third of the city is undergoing preparations to be fixed. There was no possible way a crew could not have responded in his first month and patched it?

#2 - "Under the direction of a newly appointed water czar, Ted Henifin, a two-person team has scoured the city searching for leaks or closed water valves, which also can affect water pressure."

Criticism of #2 - Six months in, the best the water czar can do is to get one two-person crew to look for leaks? When did they report the Colonial CC leak of a 48-inch main pipe had been discovered? Discovery of 6-inch and 4-inch pipes in residential neighborhoods are going to be and fixed when? I am talking about a small patch to stop the immediate leak, not a replacement of one mile of pipe. Does he need a committee to decide which pipes to repair? If a leak is discovered in a minority neighborhood (white, hispanic, or asian) in a city with a 85% AA majority population, is that neighborhood put on the bottom of the list due to "equity" goals?

#3 (Next two sentencea which demonstrates the Clarion Ledger expertise on the subject) - "Often, they have turned the valves back on themselves. Leaks generally require more time and resources to address."

Criticism of #3 - Whoa! Wait one second! Do you mean to tell me when Jackson Water employees find a valve that has been incorrectly turned off, said employees sometimes turn said valves to the correct position? So, sometimes they don't? Is that suppose to be someone else's job, like maybe Parks & Recreation, the JPD, or maybe Richards Garbage Service? CL reporter you need to explain this to us like we are 4 years old. And, it has already been stated in the story that leaks of 48-inch pipes take over 7 years to fix.

#4 - (Very next sentence) - "One of the leaks is spewing water 30 feet in the air like a geyser and losing the city as much as one million gallons a day, Ms. Hillman said."

Criticism of #4 - That one million gallon day a leak has zero chance of being fixed in the time frame of the Water Czar's appointment. But, the geyser might draw some tourists if we play our cards right.

#5 - "But [the water czar] is seeking solutions in a state where Black city leaders and white state leaders often spar over what is and is not in the best interest of Jackson."

Criticism of #5 - Thank God the reporter finally got around to making this a race issue. I know everyone here joins me in appreciating that ignoring a 48-inch pipe leaking enough clean water for 50,000 people a day for the last seven and on half years can be blamed on racism and not criticism of the leadership of Jackson. Unfortunately, that is the only sentence in the story that blames white people. Reporter, do better. I have confidence in you.

PS - I have to apologize to the Clarion Ledger reporters. This wasn't a Clarion ledger reporter, its the New York Times, "America's Paper Of Record". Well done.

Commissar Ted: Please replant dense hardwoods, under brush and blackberry bushes where they have been cleared for the pipe replacement project and enclose with barbed wire after finishing so Jackistanians won't use that area for a dump.

Tony Yarbor was mayor.
So,who reported the leak and to whom was the leak reported? If they just called the water department, I guarantee, those answering the phone didn't pass it along so it got to "the right person".
When nothing was done, did the person reporting then call his city council representative?
As a former homeowners president in two different cities ( one you love and one you hate), you cannot just call someone whose job it is only to screen calls and can't tell the difference in a serious leak and a minor one.
Persistence is an important skill if you want to fix anything that is broken! And, it should b a job requirement for a reporter!

Hey 10:34! 9:19 here. I am confused as to the point that you are trying to make. By your tone it seems as if you are making excuses that even though the city had been notified that a 48-inch pipe was leaking using the proper channels to report leaks (i.e. - an obvious problem with water was reported to the water department), instead of calling the water department that person should have known that you are not suppose to call the phone number that the water department publishes to report leaks. Instead, are you suggesting that the correct phone number where citizens should report leaks is an unknown and unpublished phone number for an unknown higher up person in the water department, or otherwise call your city councilman? My problem with the last part of my question is that my city councilman is one of those that refused to over-ride the Mayor's veto of an action that the city council did not take, which was declared by the MS supreme court to be invalid and then the mayor said the supreme court's decision is of no consequence.

You don't know if I love any city or hate any city. Your arrogance is disgusting. I don't love pieces of land. I love people, especially people who are competent at their J-O-B. There are very few people who are competent at their job in the city of Jackson and the water czar has gotten of to horrible start (six months in) in establishing that he is a competent administrator.

Tony Yarber!! Incompetence of COJ politicians predates Yarber by decades.

PS - Do we know how many employees the water department has, not counting the indomitable Mr Henefin's staff which has been overlayed on top of top management? And, is the old top management still in place and what are their salary levels and staffing numbers?

Hey, NY Times! Did y'all bother to find that out?

Signed, Jackson resident, taxpayer and paying my water bill like an idiot every month. I do not get much for my money.

How did the "Times" editorial staff slip, and let something factual be printed? This day should be made a national holliday.