Mississippi lawmakers tighten oversight of rural water and sewer systems

Mississippi lawmakers this session approved measures aimed at increasing oversight of the state’s many rural water and sewer systems, Senate and House bills and lawmakers said. The measures, including Senate Bill 2526 and House Bill 1632, are awaiting Gov. Tate Reeves’ signature, according to legislative records and lawmakers.

Senate Bill 2526 would create a Rural Water Oversight Committee and require water associations to submit rate and capacity studies and asset management plans. Sen. Bart Williams, R-Starkville, said lawmakers are “requiring water associations to do a rate study, capacity study and asset management” so the state can “come check the temperature of the association,” according to Mississippi Today.

The bill would require utilities to file the first studies and plans by December 2027 and to complete rate and capacity studies every five years thereafter, the bill text shows. The Mississippi State Department of Health would keep a list of systems in “financial distress,” and those systems would have to file improvement plans with the committee or face limits on state financial assistance, the legislation says.

The seven-member committee would include the state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the director of MSDH’s Bureau of Public Water Supply, the director of the state environmental department, a representative from the drinking water state revolving loan fund, the CEO of the Mississippi Rural Water Association and one appointee each from the governor and lieutenant governor, the bill indicates. Sen. Angela Burks Hill, R-Picayune, said some systems are “just derelict” and described organizing residents to replace a failing association board in her district, according to Mississippi Today.

Lawmakers also approved House Bill 1632, which would require the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to publish annual letter grades for public sewer systems and give the Public Service Commission authority over systems that receive a “D” or “F,” the bill shows. MDEQ must issue the first grades by Jan. 1, 2028, and the legislation would require systems to notify customers of their grade within 30 days. Mississippi Rural Water Association CEO Kirby Mayfield told Mississippi Today that existing enforcement under the state’s Nonprofit Corporation Act allows members to petition to replace boards and that the focus should be on enforcing current law.

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