Northeast Jackson residents are turning not only to their city council member but state government for help in repairing a sewer leak.
Drive along Dogwood Drive near the intersection of Twin Lake Circle, and two signs in front of a home warn about a sewage overflow.
The city of Jackson installed one sign that reads, “Caution Sewage Overflow.”
Residents installed another sign on an orange folding barricade that reads:
“Attempts have been made to resolve this sewage leak. Feel free to call. Thank you!
Please help us by calling the following:
1. City of Jackson- Department of Sewer. Phone 601-960-1875. Please refer to Case #319200.
2. Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Phone 888-786-0661. Please refer to case numbers #54545 and #557746.”
Jackson residents Katie and Nelson Creath emailed Ashby Foote, who represents Ward One and serves as president of the Jackson City Council, on Jan. 31 about the leak.
“Cases have been opened by the City of Jackson and MDEQ but there has been no visible progress for months,” the Creaths wrote in their email.
They went on to write: “The stench is overwhelming and with every rain the contaminated run-off is working its way into area waterways. I am concerned for the immediate neighbors but also for my 83-year-old mother who lives on the same street. Sewage doesn’t discriminate and it is appalling that these conditions exist anywhere in Jackson.”
Foote said he was not aware of the sewage leak until he received the email.
“I’ll reach out to the sewer people in the public works department and try to get them to go fix it,” he said.
Sewage leaks are found across the city in every ward, Foote said.
The city received $20 million from the U.S. Corps of Engineers to address drainage problems and other issues, possibly sewage, he said. The $600 million in funding that the city received from a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill must be used for improvements to the city’s drinking water, he said.
Foote said residents should report water leaks and sewage leaks to the city’s 311 Action Line or call a council member.
