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U.S. Constitution Does Not Guarantee Right to Clean Water, Fifth Circuit Rules

Current status: Lifted (as of 29/09/2026, 21:40). Older update notes in the history text may be outdated.

A federal appeals court ruled on September 5, 2026, that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to clean drinking water. This decision affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights lawsuit brought by residents of Jackson, Mississippi. The lawsuit concerned widespread lead contamination in the municipal water supply, which residents reportedly faced for years. Update (Wyoming Public Media, 25.09.2026, 23:45): The town's disinfection system remains down during testing. The advisory is now expected to last at least three days, with the earliest return to normalcy anticipated for Sunday evening. Update (Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 26.09.2026, 02:50): The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a "Do Not Drink" order for Sundowner, Inc. in Saline County, effective August 4, 2026, due to low chlorine residual and unknown manganese levels. Customers must not drink tap water, use it for food preparation, or teeth brushing, and boiling the water is to be avoided. All-clear (Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), 26.09.2026, 03:00): A boil water advisory for the Pottawatomie Co RWD 4 public water supply system in Pottawatomie County, issued due to a waterline break and loss of pressure, has been rescinded after tests showed no bacterial contamination. Update (buckrail.com, 26.09.2026, 08:00): The advisory now specifically includes Saddle Butte subdivision and Jackson Hole High School. Update (Jackson Hole News&Guide, 26.09.2026, 08:35): Potable water is available for residents at the Teton County Fairgrounds, supplied by Macy's Services via a water truck and the Food Bank of the Rockies providing bottled water. The first of two required E. coli tests was clean, with results for the second test expected Saturday afternoon. All-clear (buckrail.com, 27.09.2026, 07:20): The boil water advisory has been lifted by the EPA as of 1 p.m. on the day the alert was issued, following two consecutive days of clean water samples. Residents are advised to flush cold and hot water lines, run dishwashers, and discard ice made during the advisory period. All-clear (KHOL, 27.09.2026, 07:30): The contaminated well was located on the Elk Refuge and was not part of the town's disinfection system. Schools are now allowed to reopen. Update (Action News Jax, 27.09.2026, 11:30): Residents near Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Outlying Landing Field Whitehouse in Jacksonville, Florida, are advised to test their well water for PFAS due to potential contamination from base firefighting activities. Some off-base well water areas have tested above Department of War PFAS levels. Free water sampling and educational open houses are being offered to affected residents. Update (jhnewsandguide.com, 28.09.2026, 00:05): Officials hope to lift the advisory by Saturday afternoon. The first of two required water safety tests has returned clean. All-clear (Jackson Hole News&Guide, 28.09.2026, 00:15): The boil water advisory for Jackson was officially lifted Saturday afternoon after the town's water system tested negative for bacteria following two consecutive days of clear samples. Update (jhnewsandguide.com, 28.09.2026, 00:16): The lifting of the advisory is expected to enable schools to return to session. All-clear (Jackson Hole News&Guide, 28.09.2026, 13:55): The advisory began Thursday at approximately 5 p.m. and was officially lifted at 1 p.m. Saturday. Update (Wyoming News, 28.09.2026, 19:36): Many grocery stores quickly ran out of bottled water on Thursday evening. All-clear (Wyoming Public Media, 28.09.2026, 22:15): E. coli was detected in raw groundwater from a well during monthly checks last week. Update (Wyoming News / Rawlins Times, 29.09.2026, 00:35): Many grocery stores sold out of bottled water within half an hour of the advisory.

Location

Jackson, Mississippi

Country

🇺🇸 USA

Start

Unknown

End

31/07/2026, 02:00

Event type

Chemical contamination, Limit exceeded, Boil water advisory, Microbiological

Status

Lifted

Region

Mississippi

Last updated

29/09/2026, 21:40