12 November 2026
COLUMBIA, MS – Customers of the Lampton Water Association in Marion County say failing sewer pumps are still pushing sewage into their homes and yards, eight months after residents first went public with complaints about the utility.
WDAM reported Wednesday that customers in the Lampton community described sewage backing up into bathtubs and toilets and spilling into yards and under homes. The station said it left voicemails for the association and had not heard back. Pine Belt Guide is seeking comment from the association’s board.
What is happening in Lampton?
The short answer: residents say the sewer side of their water association has been breaking down for years, and the fixes have not kept up. In WDAM’s report, a Lampton resident said the system has been failing since 2014. He said residents were told the association is waiting on grant money.
Two workers who do sewer work for the association told the station that crews have no pumps on hand. One, an independent contractor, said crews can only relieve flooding for a short time. Another contractor said the system needs parts, switches and pumps, according to WDAM.
Customers also raised billing complaints. One resident told WDAM that people on his block pay more than $50 a month for sewer service. A local pastor who moved back to the area three months ago said he received a bill showing a negative $375 balance after he paid. He asked that the association’s policies, procedures and bylaws be made public. Another resident said her daughter’s family has received bills of $200, $300, $400 and $500 and was told to pay or face a cutoff.
Some customers said they asked to drop sewer service but were told they had to keep paying for sewer to keep their water on, WDAM reported. One man said his grandmother’s sewer pump is always full. He objected to being warned about fines for letting sewage run into the woods.
Is this a new problem?
No. The complaints have been building in public since at least March.
On March 23, WDAM reported that more than 120 residents had signed a petition about water and sewer problems. One resident told the station her bill jumped from $78 to $904 over three months. Another said she was charged $50 a month for a sewage tank that did not work. A resident who led the petition effort said she had filed a complaint with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
At that time, association board president Charlie James told WDAM the board tries to address every complaint, though not all had been fully resolved. He blamed recent billing problems on software issues and meter readings. James said the association had recently bought 23 new sewer pumps and tanks and expected a new grant to help with sewage problems, the station reported.
In April, WLBT and WDAM reported that the resident who led the petition was owed about $4,000 after being billed for sewer service she did not have properly connected. WDAM reported May 4 that she received a full refund check on April 28. James confirmed the amount to the station and said the account was in her father’s name, which kept the association from writing the check to her.
How big is the Lampton Water Association?
State health department records list the Lampton Water Association as community water system MS0460009, with Marion County as its main service area. The Mississippi State Department of Health lists 751 service connections: 717 residential and 34 commercial. It lists a population served of 1,983.
The system draws groundwater from three active wells, according to the same state listing. Charlie James is listed as president. The association’s physical address is listed as 17 Waterworks Road in Columbia.
The health department oversees drinking water. The state record does not describe the association’s sewer system, how many homes are on it or what kind of pumps it uses. Pine Belt Guide is seeking those details from the association.
What has the association said about grant money?
In March, James told WDAM a new grant was expected. Residents in the November report said they were still being told the association is waiting on grant money. Neither report named the grant, its source or its amount. Pine Belt Guide could not find a public record of the grant on Thursday and is seeking details on it from the association.
What happens next?
It is not clear. No public timeline for sewer repairs has been released. Pine Belt Guide is seeking the association’s board minutes, bylaws, sewer pump repair records and any grant application. It is also seeking details from MDEQ on any complaints or inspections tied to the Lampton system.
Customers of a nonprofit water association are generally its members. That is why residents have asked to see the bylaws, which set out how members can attend meetings, vote for the board and get financial records. Pine Belt Guide will report what the bylaws say once it obtains them.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs the Lampton Water Association? A board of directors. State health records list Charlie James as president.
How many customers does it serve? The state lists 751 connections and 1,983 people.
Has the state stepped in? A resident said in March she filed a complaint with MDEQ. No state response has been made public. Pine Belt Guide is seeking that record.
What should customers with sewage in their homes do? Residents can report problems to the association in writing and keep copies. Complaints about sewage spills can also be made to MDEQ.
Where can I read the earlier reports? See WDAM’s reports from March, May and November, WLBT’s April report and the state health department listing.
Do you live in Lampton and have records or photos to share? Contact Pine Belt Guide at news@pinebeltguide.com.