Governor: Mississippi capital’s water is again safe to drink

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — After nearly seven weeks of being forced to boil their water before drinking it or using it to brush teeth, people in Mississippi’s largest city are being told that water from the tap is safe to consume. But Jackson’s water system still needs big repairs that the mayor says the cash-strapped city cannot afford on its own. A boil-water notice was lifted Thursday. Emergency repairs are still underway after problems at Jackson’s main water treatment plant caused most customers to lose service for several days in late August and early September. Problems started after torrential rain fell in central Mississippi, altering the quality of the raw water entering Jackson’s treatment plants.