'It's a long history'| Mississippi resident talks Jackson water crisis

Published September 1, 2022 at 3:35 PM EDT

Santonia Matthews, a custodian at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Miss., hauls away a trash can filled with water from a tanker in the school's parking lot, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The tanker is one of two placed strategically in the city to provide residents non-potable water. The recent flood worsened Jackson's longstanding water system problems and the state Health Department has had Mississippi's capital city under a boil-water notice since late July. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — People are waiting in lines for water in Jackson, Mississippi, after the partial failure of the the city water system.

Some homes and businesses have running water, but many do not. Flooding of the Pearl River worsened longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants.

President Joe Biden has declared an emergency over the water problems in Mississippi's capital city.

Biden called the city's mayor Wednesday to discuss response efforts.

A city news release said the main water-treatment plant had “challenges with water chemistry” Wednesday, which led to a drop in output of water.

That caused depletion of water tanks and a sharp decrease in water pressure.

Cassandra Welchlin, Executive Director of Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable joins Dr. Kaye to provide insight on the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi.

To support the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable, click here.