Due to technical problems, there is a shortage of drinking water and running water in the capital of the US state of Mississippi. State Governor Tate Reeves reported serious problems in the water treatment system in the city of Jackson, home to about 150,000 people.

"Don't drink the water," Reeves warned, looking at water still coming through the pipes. "In too many cases it is raw water from the reservoir that is forced through the pipes." The city currently has "no reliable running water on a large scale." This is not only a problem with regard to drinking water, but for the water supply in general.

"It means the city can't produce enough water for firefighting, reliable toilet flushing and other essential needs," Reeves said. "We will do everything in our power to restore water pressure and bring water back to the people of Jackson."

Water is distributed to residents

For the time being, water should be distributed to the residents of the city. This is an "extremely complicated logistical task," Reeves complained: "We have to take care of up to 180,000 people for an unknown period of time." He also referred to people in the suburbs of the city.

To mobilize additional personnel and resources, Reeves declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard to assist. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday the federal government stands ready to help. The civil protection agency Fema is in contact with representatives of the state. And the environmental agency Epa is working to speed up the delivery of important processing equipment for emergency repairs.

Reeves admitted the problems had been brewing for some time. However, damage to several pumps in the city's central water treatment plant would have exacerbated the situation. The region has recently had to contend with heavy rainfall and flooding. Jackson is the largest city in Mississippi in the southern United States.