MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisories
(JACKSON, Miss.) — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, issued water contact advisories Wednesday for six sampling stations. These segments of beach are not closed; however, there may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in these areas.
MDEQ is working closely with local officials to advise residents that the water in the following locations may have high bacteria levels:
●Station 7 — Pass Christian East — from Espy Ave. east to Hayden Ave.
●Station 9 — Gulfport Harbor — from 20th Ave east to Thornton Ave.
●Station 10 — Gulfport Central — from Alfonso Dr. east to Arkansas Ave.
●Station 10B — East Courthouse Rd. — from Courthouse Rd east to Teagarden.
Earlier today MDEQ issued a closure for:
●Station 5 — Pass Christian West — from Fort Henry east to Elliot Ave.
When water samples show that levels are safe for human contact, the advisories will be lifted. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, which performs water sampling of the Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches for MDEQ, notifies the agency when an area has returned to acceptable levels.
Additionally, swimmers are reminded that the Beach Task Force has a standing recommendation that swimming not occur during or within 24 hours of a significant rainfall event.
More information on the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program:
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/msbeach/index.cgi.
To receive beach advisories directly, send an email to rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us for inclusion in a public group email list, text “MDEQbeach” to 95577, or follow MDEQ on Twitter: @MDEQ.
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