Skilled crews from AMWA member utilities deployed to restore water services in Jackson

This article originally appeared in AMWA's September issue of Water Utility Executive.

As most know, the?Jackson Water Department?recently experienced a crisis in its water system. The headlines have been blaring about the range of problems, but tangible solutions have been slow to come. In its?September 12 MMB, AMWA reported on the five open Emergency Management Assistance Compact requests for water utility personnel issued by the State of Mississippi for skilled utility workers to come and assist with restoring Jackson’s water supply.

Several AMWA members answered the call and sent teams to help address the functional issues at the O.B. Curtis Water Plant in Jackson, Miss., to help the city restore water services. The swift mobilization efforts and response underscore the need for a skilled workforce and demonstrate the strength of the water sector.

AMWA spoke with a three-person crew from Spartanburg Water ?in South Carolina as the group was wrapping up its efforts in Mississippi. The team proudly recounted its deep commitment to assisting a fellow utility to resume operations and continue to provide clean drinking water to the Jackson community. The Spartanburg Water group left on September 11 and returned on September 27. When they arrived, the City of Jackson was under a city-wide boil water notice, which has since been lifted.

Scott Duff,?Facilities Maintenance Manager, led the crew that included John Harris, Maintenance Coordinator/Supervisor, and Wes Earls, Maintenance Technician/Supervisor. The Spartanburg team arrived when there was still a boil notice. They noted an immense sense of camaraderie on-site and a willingness to work together as a collective team to get the job done. While they acknowledged more work ahead for the City of Jackson, they feel they accomplished a tremendous number of repairs and made improvements.

According to Scott Duff, there is an extremely high level of collaboration among the utilities and local, state, and federal organizations. “Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, EPA, FEMA, the Mississippi Health Department of Health - all the entities are working together,” said Scott. There is plenty of coordination among the organizations, and the entire team is there to assist. Upon arrival, each new crew tours the plant and goes through the water intake process. They get new work orders daily, order the parts, make repairs, report progress, and alert the larger team to potential problems or obstacles.

Although the two-week period went by quickly, the team left with a sense of accomplishment. Before leaving, the Spartanburg crew worked with a team from WSSC Water ?on the demobilization process to ensure the continuity of repair efforts. When asked if they would volunteer again, all responded, “yes.”

“I came down to make a difference and to help a community that didn’t have clean drinking water,” said Wes Earls. “It is an opportunity for utilities to come together to support another utility. The ability to help others – there’s a lot of satisfaction in that.”

Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) in Ohio also sent a team of five to head to Jackson from September 12-September 26. According to Verna Arnette, GCWW’s Acting Director, the City of Cincinnati and the City Manager were incredibly supportive of the effort to send employees to assist Jackson Water Utility. GCWW asked for volunteers who had the skill set outlined by the Mississippi Emergency Management System. It took less than a week for city officials to agree and to get the crew on the ground in Mississippi.

The GCWW group included Justin Barkey, Plant Maintenance Supervisor; Craig Baurichter,?Engineering Technician 3; Don Lewis,?Building Maintenance Worker; Victor McKinney,?Water Works Maintenance Worker; and Eric Tjisma,?Maintenance Machinist. The experience has helped them learn more about themselves and has validated their skills. It also illuminated the broader network and system to which they actively contribute. Before they left, they passed the baton to the team at Central Arkansas Water .

“This is a great example of why we need skilled workers,” said Verna Arnette, GCWW’s Acting Director. “The workers make a difference. Mechanics, electricians, technicians - all of them add. There are many touchpoints in the network. It is there, and AMWA is a key part of it.”

Since the crews have been on the ground in the city, water system operations in Jackson have improved.?In a September 27 update, the city said the water plant remained at a steady pressure and was operating at 88 PSI. Crews were working to repair leaks throughout the city and continuing to prioritize repairs to protect storage tanks.

AMWA looks forward to hearing and sharing more stories about how utility staff is working to provide communities with safe drinking water.