Release of 3 billion gallons of sewage could cost city $800 million

Published 7:58 am Friday, February 8, 2019

Mississippi’s capitol city continues to struggle to meet terms of an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency on sewage problems.

The Clarion Ledger reported Jackson officials are scheduled to meet with the EPA soon to discuss problems that led to close federal monitoring.

EPA records show Jackson’s main water treatment facility released nearly 3 billion gallons (2.5 billion imperial gallons) of minimally treated sewage into the Pearl River over a six-month period last year.

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That’s among the highest figures the city has recorded since the agreement started in 2012.

City and federal officials are to meet later this month or in March to renegotiate the consent agreement terms.

Public works director Bob Miller says the current agreement could cost the city up to $800 million, nearly twice the original estimate.