Our Water

Jackson Energy Authority is responsible for the production and delivery of potable water (water that is safe to drink or use for food preparation) in the Jackson public water system and the Mercer system. Many water utilities around the country responsible for delivering safe drinking water purchase wholesale treated water or source it from surface water, i.e. lakes, rivers, streams and treat it. Our source water is pumped from groundwater in the Memphis and Fort Pillow sand aquifers, treated, filtered and tested at our two water treatment plants. Due to elevation differences in the city, there are a total of 18 wells providing water to two distinct well fields, North and South. In the Mercer system, two wells extract water from the Memphis and Fort Pillow sand aquifers for treatment prior to storage in an elevated storage tank at the treatment plant site. As a means of protection, each production well is located within a controlled-access, secure area and components of the wells in all production fields are routinely inspected and maintained. At Jackson Energy Authority, we work every day to ensure that the water delivered to our community is clean, reliable, carefully monitored from source to tap, and continues to stay abundant in supply. 

ClearTap

Our drinking water undergoes extensive testing throughout every stage of the process including protecting the source and applying proven treatment methods to sampling the distribution system to ensure it meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards established by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These practices help maintain consistency in clarity, safety, and overall water quality, and they reflect the structured, science‑based steps that guide our approach to water management. In addition to regulatory compliance, ClearTap™ has been evaluated in industry settings, earning recognition as the Best Tasting Water in Tennessee and Kentucky from the American Water Works Association, based on criteria including clarity, scent, and flavor. JEA’s Water Division has also achieved perfect scores on TDEC’s Sanitary Survey, further demonstrating the effectiveness of our operations, treatment processes, and system maintenance. Together, these outcomes provide customers with a clear understanding of how our water is managed and the standards it meets as it moves through our system.

ClearTap goes through a multi‑step treatment process designed to produce water that is both clean and palatable. While the specific steps vary depending on seasonal and environmental conditions, the general process includes:

• Source protection: safeguarding the quality of water before it enters the treatment plant.
• Filtration: removing naturally occurring particles.
• Disinfection: reducing the presence of microorganisms through approved methods.
• Distribution system monitoring: ensuring water maintains quality as it travels through pipes to customers.
• These steps follow guidelines set by state and federal regulatory bodies that govern municipal water systems across the country. [holidaylookup.com]
• Recognition for Water Quality

These steps follow guidelines set by state and federal regulatory bodies that govern municipal water systems across the country.

Regulatory Compliance and Monitoring

JEA’s Water Division performs routine sampling and analysis throughout the system to verify water quality at multiple stages incuding source, treatment, and distribution. This monitoring is designed to identify potential issues early and ensure regulatory compliance at all times.  Customers can access detailed information about JEA’s water quality through the annual Consumer Confidence Report, which outlines testing results, detected substances (if any), regulatory limits, and educational information about water safety. As noted on JEA’s Water Quality page, the utility emphasizes transparency and provides ongoing resources to help the community understand how drinking water is managed.

Role in the Community

ClearTap supports daily activities across the community, from hydration and cooking to industrial processes that require consistent water access. Because of the system’s regulated structure, local users benefit from:

• Reliable access to clean drinking water
• Consistent pressure and supply
• Routine testing and oversight
• Documentation of compliance through state surveys and public reports
• These elements help ensure that the local water system functions effectively and provides water that meets established safety and quality criteria.

System Specifics

Jackson Energy Authority’s water system has sufficient capacity for future growth. The North treatment plant operates at 75% capacity with a max capacity of producing 14.4 million gallons per day while the South treatment plant operates at 40% capacity with a max capacity of producing 8 million gallons per day.