Jackson, MS Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Water regulation in Hinds County is unusually complex due to Jackson's ongoing water infrastructure crisis. Following the August 2022 O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant failure that left most of Jackson without safe drinking water, a federal court placed Jackson's water system under third-party management. JXN Water, operated by interim manager Ted Henifin, has managed the system since 2023 and routinely issues boil water notices, pressure advisories, and conservation requests affecting Jackson residents. MDEQ oversees water use permits and drought response statewide under MS Code Ann. §51-3-1 et seq. During declared drought, MDEQ may mandate odd-even address watering schedules and time-of-day restrictions (no watering 10 AM to 4 PM). Clinton, Byram, Raymond, and Terry operate independent water systems not affected by the JXN Water crisis. Unincorporated Hinds County residents typically rely on rural water associations (Hinds County Water Association, Bolton-Edwards Water Association) or private wells, and restrictions vary by association. Mississippi's humid subtropical climate typically produces 55+ inches of annual rainfall, so permanent mandatory conservation is rare outside drought emergencies. New construction in Jackson may be subject to water capacity analysis due to infrastructure limits.