Hattiesburg, Mississippi – The City of Hattiesburg has earned a perfect score on the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) annual inspection of its drinking water system for the seventh consecutive year, this time under a newly updated scoring system.
This year, MSDH shifted from a 5-point scale to a more detailed 100-point evaluation, providing a fuller picture of operational performance in technical, managerial and financial categories. Hattiesburg received a score of 100 out of 100, demonstrating continued excellence across all areas.
“Having a long-standing perfect record is significant on its own, but earning a 100 out of 100 under a more rigorous scoring system speaks volumes about the professionalism and dedication of our team,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “Our water and sewer staff continue to deliver high-quality operations and through thoughtful investments in our infrastructure, strengthen our system for decades to come.”
The annual inspection evaluates drinking water systems in three core categories: technical, managerial and financial. Despite the increased level of detail in the new rating system, Hattiesburg received full points in each area.
“Our team is committed to delivering the highest-quality water possible,” said Water and Sewer Director Alan Howe. “From sampling and recordkeeping to major system improvements, every employee plays a role in protecting and advancing our water system. This score reflects the hard work they put in around the clock.”
With the 2025 report, the City continues a streak of perfect scores that began in 2019:
Historical Scores
2025 – 100/100
2024 – 5/5
2023 – 5/5
2022 – 5/5
2021 – 5/5
2020 – no report due to COVID-19, all agencies kept the same score from the prior year.
2019 – 5/5
2018 – 4.7/5, points were docked due to lack of audits
2017 – 4/5, points were docked due to high iron levels
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