MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisory for Pearl River and Other Streams in the Jackson Area
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory today for a section of the Pearl River from its confluence with Hanging Moss Creek to the Swinging Bridge in Bryam. Advisories are also issued for Hanging Moss Creek, Town Creek, Lynch Creek, Eubanks Creek, Hardy Creek, and Trahon Creek. Also included is Tilda Slough which is along the south side of Pascagoula Street and east of Jefferson Street (parallel to Pascagoula Street) that flows through an underground culvert then emerges at I-55 near the Pearl Street exit. This slough drains north under High Street where it is pumped to the Pearl River (see attached map).
MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact activities such as swimming, wading, and fishing. People should also avoid eating fish or anything else taken from these waters until further notice.
The advisory is being issued due to ongoing sanitary sewer overflows around the City of Jackson discharging wastewater into various waterbodies.
MDEQ staff will continue to collect water samples and monitor the water quality in the area. The advisory may be revised as needed.
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