Due to numerous water main breaks in the city and on campus, the Jackson Campus of Reformed Theological Seminary was closed last week. Much of the city remains on a boil water alert.

It was an unprecedented event for the city. Nearly half the houses in Jackson were built between 1950 and 1970, so most of the water system is up to 60 years old. Back then city was allowing developers to use a sulphur compound for pipe joints called leadite. While it was cheap, it would not stand any movement. It resulted in stiff compound which was likely to break when the soil beneath it would move.

Wanda Rushing, director of operations and assistant to the president of RTS/Jackson said,

“The maintenance staff went the extra mile to bring containers of water from safe sources and we purchased bottled water from Sam’s to provide to students. We are most grateful for the service of our maintenance staff, headed by Robert Benton. Robert and his team worked with our students to keep them informed, but most importantly to provide for their needs.

“We opened two of our vacant townhouses for the students to take baths, do laundry, provided porta potties for their use, and offered our homes for students to go and take baths.”

Several students wrote in to thank Robert and his team for their hard work. The Seminary was also assisted by Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, MS and their pastor, Greg Belser!, by making space available for our leadership teams that were meeting in Jackson at the time of the water issues.

To view source, read here.