Jackson, MS, has been dealing with a water crisis that just days ago reached a breaking point, leaving most of the city without running water. Recent torrential rain plus notices from officials that the city’s largest water treatment plant was failing has much of the city shut down, and has resulted in a federal emergency.
Salons, which rely on water to be operational and to perform nearly any service, are confronted with a significant predicament. Imagine a client is processing color, and suddenly the water is shut off, with no indication when it will be turned on? The liability that comes along with the unpredictability of a failing water system has forced salons to find creative ways to work around this citywide issue.
Tina Chianelli, owner of Jackson-based Patina Hair Studio, said the city has had water issues for the past five years—sometimes it’s just low pressure, which the salon can manage, but at times, like now, it's significant enough to impact operations.
"When the water issues first began, I started keeping emergency water on hand just to be sure we could get color/lightener off of someone’s hair if we were to suddenly lose water," said Chianelli. "The city is very slow, if ever, to make us aware of any water issues."
In February 2021, Patina Hair Studio (and other facilities in Jackson) was without water for 10 days. At the time, the city took the decision-making and repair process day by day, with no projected end date, she said. Rather than inconvenience clients by repeatedly rescheduling, she contacted a well-respected commercial plumber and took things into her own hands.
"We discussed the situation and how we could still serve our clients safely," Chianelli said. "Together we decided on a trailer with a fresh water tank, pump and hoses to circulate water through the water heater, set to a comfortable temperature, so that we could still service our clients. It worked very well! At the end of each day, I would take the trailer and tank home to refill it for the next day. Each morning I arrived by 7am to place the trailer and tank, ran the hoses and made the necessary connections to function properly."
She did this for the full 10 days, and was able to work without issue. Since then, she has kept all the necessary equipment on hand to use at a moment's notice because "the city is just that unreliable."
It's not as if salons and businesses like Patina Hair Studio aren't doing their part when it comes to conserving water. Chianelli's salon uses Ecoheads at every shampoo bowl, washes laundry in bulk rather than more frequent smaller loads, and uses refillable bottles for drinking water that staff brings from home.
But this situation is the worst one yet. "We have no water to low water intermittently," she said. The air conditioners on the roof are water-cooled units, so the salon is also without AC, the heat being another factor forcing them to remain closed until after Labor Day, when they can reevaluate the situation.
With a city that historically has done little to fix this infrastructure crisis, salons are faced with heart-wrenching choices—take a gamble and hope things improve, install a complete workaround like Patina, or simply get outta dodge.
"The only solution is moving out of the City of Jackson," said Chianelli. "I have a new salon under construction that should be ready within the next 30 days in Ridgeland, MS, where the city is safe and reliable."
Jackson is not transparent and has allowed the water situation to implode, she said, adding that "the city has misused millions of dollars that should have made the necessary repairs and upgrades to facilities." Governor Tate Reeves has stepped in and taken over the water treatment facilities with emergency repairs and personnel, she said. He has made progress within the last few days while keeping the public informed alongside other state agencies assisting with this crisis, she added.
Not every salon owner or suite renter is in the position to pick up and start over or install a workaround, impacting the livelihood of a majority Black city that has struggled with poverty and access to basic public services, including reliable trash pickup and regular road repairs, according to The New York Times. Now, solutions like keeping bottled water stocked isn't even an option, as the city is running out of resources.
To donate and help, consider these organizations and initiatives:
Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition
Operation Good
Mississippi Food Network
MS Student Water Crisis Advocacy Team
Watch this space for updates.