The Belhaven University team stood on the sidelines as their game against Millsaps College began on Thursday.
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The Belhaven University team stood on the sidelines as their game against Millsaps College began on Thursday.
Leslie Gamboni for NPR
Rain, shine, dry faucets or low water pressure, in the Southern game must continue.
Some residents in Jackson, Miss., have been without running water for days, while others have been told about boiling water for more than a month. But unreliable water has been a way of life in Jackson for years, and that hasn’t been enough to stop football fans from watching the opening season between Jackson High Schools – Millsaps College, playing as the home team. home, and Belhaven University as the away field. team.
The players’ family members drove from out of state to support their son. They also brought a water dispenser after hearing about the water pressure turning on and off in the hostel. Flooding of the Pearl River, which cuts through Jackson, resulted in the failure of the city’s main water treatment plant and fight for clean water because the system loses pressure.
Millsaps College said Friday night that it has good water pressure. But it is volatile, so the school has introduced portable toilets and portable showers in case they need to be deployed.
Bogan Brewer, a member of the Belhaven University football team, drinks on the sidelines during Belhaven’s game against Millsaps College.
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Bogan Brewer, a member of the Belhaven University football team, drinks on the sidelines during Belhaven’s game against Millsaps College.
Leslie Gamboni for NPR
Once the game starts, it’s easy to forget about the water crisis. In the away stands there were hundreds of fans dressed in green and yellow Belhaven. A blue Powerade sits under a man’s sneakers while the franchise counter sells bottles of Dasani water with a condensate coating for $3. On the patio, benches are lined with green and yellow vintage Gatorade squeeze bottles.
A rare reminder of the city’s water disaster came when the game’s announcer thanked Infinite Insurance for providing 37,000 bottles of water to students and players.
Belhaven freshman Alyssa Pearson came to cheer on the Belhaven athletes after her soccer team beat Sul Ross State University earlier in the day. Water is not an issue throughout the game, although the night before it was an issue after the game – after finishing the game she was ready for a quick shower, but found her dorm no more water pressure. She goes out on campus to clean up.
Belhaven fans cheer in the stands during the football game between Belhaven University and Millsaps University in Jackson, Mississippi.
Leslie Gamboni for NPR
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Belhaven fans cheer in the stands during the football game between Belhaven University and Millsaps University in Jackson, Mississippi.
Leslie Gamboni for NPR
In Acworth, Ga., where Pearson came from, the announcement of boiling water was not the norm as it was in Jackson. It was a tough upbringing – not enough to make her consider transferring schools, but she learned to brush her teeth with bottled water and wondered what else was coming out of the shower.
“I don’t know if my toilet will flush today,” Pearson said.
The dry cleaning line is new to Belhaven senior Izzy Erickson, but the announcement of boiling water has been a regular occurrence in her four years here. She doesn’t intend to let the crisis ruin her senior year, but she’s ready to finish with Jackson.
“I knew I wasn’t going to live here after college, so I guess I have that to look forward to,” Erickson said.
Jakuria Ahmed attended the Belhaven University football game with her children.
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Jakuria Ahmed attended the Belhaven University football game with her children.
Leslie Gamboni for NPR
Other seniors give the low water pressure a shrug — just another chance to embrace the Belhaven ordinance through adversity. A baseball player lives off campus and lets friends enjoy his work shower when the water in the dorm is dripping.
Jackson State University senior Patrick Powere Jr. spends his spare time delivering water to residents of Jackson’s affordable housing communities – many or without a car to get to distribution points. Drivers or can’t afford gas can wait for hours for delivery.
School sporting events continue throughout Jackson despite the water crisis.
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School sporting events continue throughout Jackson despite the water crisis.
Leslie Gamboni for NPR
Tonight, he’s in the stands to support his former high school teammate playing for Belhaven, who won the game 49-1. He’s had to deal with water problems his whole life but part of what makes this crisis different is how long it lasts. Some residents have been told about boiling water for a month and no deadline for repairs. But Powere said even if the city’s water remains undrinkable for Jackson State’s first home game on September 17, he will still be there at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium to cheer on your team.
“I’ll still be in Vet, Bang Jackson from head to toe, cheering on our boys,” he said.
