The Cost of Aging Water Infrastructure and Environmental Racism: The Jackson, Mississippi Water Crisis and Access to Funding

Jackson, Mississippi is a city with an ongoing water crisis due to underfunded aging water infrastructure. The predominantly Black city has experienced environmental racism due to historical white flight, funding allocation and conditions, tension between local and state governments, and maintenance and workforce development issues. This policy brief examines these factors that have contributed to the Jackson water crisis and how funding for drinking water infrastructure has been distributed, especially considering the historic investment in environmental justice by the Justice40 Initiative. This analysis informs the provided policy recommendations for the utilization of water infrastructure funding that advances environmental justice. This policy brief was prepared by researchers in partnership with water justice advocates in Jackson.