(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, lifted water contact advisories Thursday for Station 8 (Gulfport West Beach) and Station 11 (Gulfport East Beach). Water samples at these stations show the areas have attained acceptable bacteria levels.
An advisory is issued for Station 7A (Long Beach), and an advisory remains in effect for Station 6 (Pass Christian Central Beach).
An advisory is issued when bacteria levels exceed water quality criteria and pose an increased risk to human health. Under the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program, water is tested for the presence of Enterococcus bacteria, which is an indicator for bacteria pollution. When an advisory is issued, water contact should be avoided.
The advisories are lifted for:
- Station 8 — Gulfport West Beach — the extent is from Maria Ave. east to Camp Ave.
- Station 11 — Gulfport East Beach — the extent is from Tegarden Rd. east to Anniston Ave.
An advisory is issued for:
- Station 7A — Long Beach — near Trautman Ave. — the extent is from Oak Gardens Ave. east to Girard Ave.
An advisory remains in effect for:
- Station 6 — Pass Christian Central Beach — the extent is from Henderson Ave. east to Hiern Ave.
These segments of beach are not closed; however, there may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in these areas. When water samples show that levels are safe for human contact, the advisories will be lifted.
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 about the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program and the location of beach sampling stations is available at: http://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/beaches.
To receive beach advisories directly, fill out a contact form at http://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/beaches/contact.html for inclusion in a public group email list, text “MDEQbeach” to 95577, or follow MDEQ on Twitter: @MDEQ.
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