JXN Water Shuts Off Drinking Water for Overdue Bills, Declines to Reveal Total Accounts Affected

JACKSON, Miss. – JXN Water confirmed to WLBT this week that it has shut off drinking water for Gardenside Apartments in Jackson, Mississippi, due to unpaid bills. The complex, located just west of State Street on Northside Drive, contains 144 units with rents starting at $749. Management has not commented, but advertisements indicate that water, sewer, and trash are included in the rent.

JXN Water, established in 2022 through a federal court order, began shutting off water connections for unpaid bills in March. However, the utility declined to disclose the total number of accounts suspended. “No, as in we are not releasing that number,” said Aisha Carson, JXN Water’s media spokesperson.

Outstanding Debts and Lack of Payments

The Gardenside Apartments owes $149,000 and has not made a payment since 2017. JXN Water reported making repeated attempts to collect the debt. Carson stated, “That company that owns (Gardenside) owns more than one apartment complex in Jackson. None of their accounts are current, and they have not been responsive to our requests at all.”

The registered agent for Gardenside is Moshe Weber, whose address matches that of a New York Life insurance agent in Brooklyn, New York. Weber did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Wider Issue with Apartment Complexes

In April, JXN Water reported that five other apartment complexes, not including Gardenside, owed over $1.8 million in water bills. All five were owned by out-of-state companies. Carson did not specify which other complexes are at risk of having their water shut off but mentioned that some have reached out to arrange payment plans since the April news.

JXN Water is actively enforcing its severance process for apartment complexes more than 90 days behind on their water bills. The utility sends multiple notices to property managers before starting the severance process. Tenants in Jackson are encouraged to ask their property management companies if their accounts with JXN Water are current.

Mississippi Today first published this article, and it is republished here under a Creative Commons license.