Jackson officials said they are responding to a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice sent Monday to the mayor about the city’s water system.In the letter to Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and the city’s attorney and assistant attorney, the DOJ asked the city to enter negotiations or face action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. City officials said negotiations have already begun.The DOJ letter, signed by Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, said the city must address violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act related to Jackson’s water system.”The United States also believes that an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health exists, as evidenced by the roughly 300 boil water notices that have been issued over the past two years, the multiple line breaks during that same time period, and the recent drinking water crisis where most city residents did not have access to running water for many days,” the DOJ said in the letter. The letter outlined violations, including failure to adequately staff the city’s water treatment plants, failure to implement an alternate water supply plan based on the EPA’s emergency order and failing to install corrosion control under the Lead and Copper Rule. “The Justice Department believes that contaminates are in or likely to enter the city’s public water system that may present as imminent and substantial endangerment to public health,” the letter said. “The Justice Department further believes that state and local authorities have not acted to protect public health.”The DOJ said the city must also address Clean Water Act violations in its wastewater system. “We believe that it is imperative that we enter into agreements with a team that is solely and sincerely focused on an objective of ensuring safe and reliable drinking water to the residents of Jackson,” Lumumba said in a statement. “We believe this arrangement represents the best path forward.”The city said in a news release that the intention is to work with the DOJ and the EPA to develop a “comprehensive plan to remedy violations.” EPA Administrator Michael Regan was in Jackson on Monday to attend a roundtable discussion with the mayor and faith leaders about the city’s water crisis. He said the letter from the DOJ was a formality.”We all know there are compliance challenges with the city of Jackson, but that’s not the end of the story,” Regan said. “We also know that we need to chart a path forward, where we have a trusted infrastructure in place that will continue to pursue the right financial choices and the right expertise in how we build a system that the people of Jackson can trust.”Regan said the EPA will work with the governor and city leaders to come up with a plan to make sure Jackson’s water system is reliable and can provide clean drinking water moving forward. “We have done testing to ensure that the boil-water notice could be lifted and that the water is safe,” Regan said. “We also are going to pursue lead testing, as well. We are going to ensure the water is safe. I think what the letter refers to is the vulnerability of the system.”But a class action lawsuit has already been filed based on EPA findings regarding the city’s lead content in the water. The feds said a third-party operator may be the best step moving forward, to which Lumumba agrees. The mayor still wants the city to maintain ownership of the water system.

JACKSON, Miss. —

Jackson officials said they are responding to a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice sent Monday to the mayor about the city’s water system.

In the letter to Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and the city’s attorney and assistant attorney, the DOJ asked the city to enter negotiations or face action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. City officials said negotiations have already begun.

The DOJ letter, signed by Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, said the city must address violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act related to Jackson’s water system.

“The United States also believes that an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health exists, as evidenced by the roughly 300 boil water notices that have been issued over the past two years, the multiple line breaks during that same time period, and the recent drinking water crisis where most city residents did not have access to running water for many days,” the DOJ said in the letter.

The letter outlined violations, including failure to adequately staff the city’s water treatment plants, failure to implement an alternate water supply plan based on the EPA’s emergency order and failing to install corrosion control under the Lead and Copper Rule.

“The Justice Department believes that contaminates are in or likely to enter the city’s public water system that may present as imminent and substantial endangerment to public health,” the letter said. “The Justice Department further believes that state and local authorities have not acted to protect public health.”

The DOJ said the city must also address Clean Water Act violations in its wastewater system.

“We believe that it is imperative that we enter into agreements with a team that is solely and sincerely focused on an objective of ensuring safe and reliable drinking water to the residents of Jackson,” Lumumba said in a statement. “We believe this arrangement represents the best path forward.”

The city said in a news release that the intention is to work with the DOJ and the EPA to develop a “comprehensive plan to remedy violations.”

EPA Administrator Michael Regan was in Jackson on Monday to attend a roundtable discussion with the mayor and faith leaders about the city’s water crisis. He said the letter from the DOJ was a formality.

“We all know there are compliance challenges with the city of Jackson, but that’s not the end of the story,” Regan said. “We also know that we need to chart a path forward, where we have a trusted infrastructure in place that will continue to pursue the right financial choices and the right expertise in how we build a system that the people of Jackson can trust.”

Regan said the EPA will work with the governor and city leaders to come up with a plan to make sure Jackson’s water system is reliable and can provide clean drinking water moving forward.

“We have done testing to ensure that the boil-water notice could be lifted and that the water is safe,” Regan said. “We also are going to pursue lead testing, as well. We are going to ensure the water is safe. I think what the letter refers to is the vulnerability of the system.”

But a class action lawsuit has already been filed based on EPA findings regarding the city’s lead content in the water. The feds said a third-party operator may be the best step moving forward, to which Lumumba agrees. The mayor still wants the city to maintain ownership of the water system.

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