Water Crisis Windshield Survey of Jackson, MS
This paper presents a windshield survey of Jackson, Mississippi, focusing on the city's ongoing water crisis and its public health implications. The survey describes the socio-economic context of Jackson — a majority African American city with high poverty rates and elevated chronic disease burdens — and identifies contaminated tap water as the primary community health hazard. The paper outlines the risks of ignoring boil water advisories, particularly for vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. It also proposes community interventions including public education campaigns, training sessions, and emergency response planning aimed at improving health literacy and increasing compliance with safe water practices.
- Community Overview: Jackson, MS: Demographics, health outcomes, and community strengths
- Windshield Survey Findings: First-person observation of residential apartment block
- Primary Health Hazard: The Water Crisis: Boil water advisories and vulnerable population risks
- Community Goals and Health Literacy: Raising awareness about safe water compliance
- Intervention Plans and Strategies: Education campaigns, training, and emergency response plans
- Expected Outcomes: Improved health literacy and reduced waterborne illness
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What makes this paper effective
- Grounds the health issue in concrete socio-economic context, connecting race, income, and poverty to poor health outcomes in a specific community.
- Uses a first-person windshield survey to add observational authenticity and local credibility to the assessment.
- Moves logically from problem identification to goal-setting to intervention planning, giving the paper a clear public health structure.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the windshield survey method — a community health assessment tool in which the observer systematically records environmental and social conditions from direct observation. This technique is paired with peer-reviewed citations to validate claims about risk populations and boil water advisory effectiveness, showing how experiential observation can be supported by scholarly evidence.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a demographic and socio-economic profile of Jackson, MS, then narrows to a first-person windshield survey of a residential apartment block. It identifies the boil water advisory as the primary health hazard, explains why residents dismiss it, and proposes multi-format public education and emergency planning as interventions. It closes with expected outcomes centered on improved health literacy and reduced waterborne illness. The paper is appropriately concise for an applied community health assessment at the undergraduate level.
Community Overview: Jackson, MS
Jackson, MS is a city located in central Mississippi. As of 2020, the city's population was estimated to be approximately 160,000 people. The vast majority of residents are African American (82%), and the median household income is relatively low at around $40,000. Jackson also has high rates of poverty and crime (Data USA, 2022). Unfortunately, these socio-economic factors have contributed to poor health outcomes for many residents. The city's mortality rate is higher than the national average, and residents are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses such as obesity and diabetes. There has also been an ongoing water crisis in Jackson that is the primary subject of this assessment.
In recent years, there have been efforts to improve the health of the community through initiatives such as childhood obesity prevention programs and expanding access to healthcare. However, much more work needs to be done to truly improve the health of Jackson's residents, especially when it comes to increasing compliance with the city's boil water program.
Strengths of the area include the city's strong sense of pride, with residents who appear passionate about their community. Jackson is also a welcoming and inviting place with a friendly population. One of its greatest assets is its sense of community: people here are quick to help their neighbors and look out for one another.
Windshield Survey Findings
The windshield survey was conducted of my community apartment block and reflects a typical apartment complex environment. The apartments are not ornate and offer limited aesthetic appeal. There is some greenery in the immediate environment, but not enough to give the block a park-like quality. The overall atmosphere is somewhat depressed, yet it is home for many people, including myself.
Primary Health Hazard: The Water Crisis
The number one health risk and hazard in this community is the ongoing water problem. Residents are constantly reminded to boil their water before use. They have been advised to boil all water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, or brushing their teeth. While boiling water is an effective way to kill bacteria, it is not the only precaution residents should take (Hyllestad et al., 2021). Those with compromised immune systems, young children, and older adults are especially vulnerable to bacterial infections and should take extra care to avoid contaminated water (Fazal-ur-Rehman, 2019).
The best way to protect oneself from illness is to drink only bottled or boiled water and to practice good hygiene by washing hands thoroughly and frequently. By following these simple steps, residents of Jackson can help minimize their risk of becoming ill during this ongoing crisis. Information about boil water advisories and safe water practices from the CDC provides helpful guidance for communities facing similar situations.
References
Data USA. (2022). Jackson, MS. Retrieved from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/jackson-ms/
Fazal-ur-Rehman, M. (2019). Polluted water borne diseases: Symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention. Journal of Medicinal and Chemical Sciences, 2(1), 21–26.
Hyllestad, S., Kjørsvik, S. S., Veneti, L., & Amato, E. (2021). Identifying challenges in drinking water supplies: Assessment of boil water advisories in Norway (2008–2019). Journal of Water and Health, 19(5), 872–884.
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