Severe Water Shortage Plaguing Mississippi Hotels

More than a week after a winter storm and frigid temperatures caused both destruction and death across the United States, Jackson, Mississippi, is still dealing with the aftermath of burst pipes, in the form of a severe water shortage, according to WJTV.

An area Homewood Suites has been without running water since Christmas Eve. Hotel management told WJTV that the location had lost up to 90% of its daily bookings last week and thousands of dollars in revenue, as guests either canceled their stays or left early, due to the loss of water.

“It affects our revenue. It’s affecting our labor. We’re having to cut labor because we don’t have the revenue to staff our team here,” Blake Butler, a Homewood Suites manager, told WJTV. “We do have a few guests that do choose to stay here if they’re one-nighters. You can’t shower, you can’t drink the water. We have nothing to offer for them, really, except a bed. It’s aggravating for them to come and expect a home away from home, which we provide or should provide. We can’t because of lack of proper water.”

The city’s historic Fairview Inn also saw guests cancel reservations or cut their stays short. Owner Tamar Sharp told WJTV that her kitchen staff had to boil water for two days, just to wash the dishes. “It’s just physically very demanding,” she said.

As the water crisis continued into the new year, city officials announced water distribution sites and asked people to conserve water, as crews worked to fix the broken water system.

To learn effective and affordable steps you can take to prevent burst pipes, check out Preventing Burst Pipes in Your Facility.