FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robbie Wilbur
June 11, 2009 601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES ADVISORY FOR PORTION OF BACK BAY
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a temporary advisory Thursday for a portion of Back Bay Biloxi due to discharges from the d'Iberville Wastewater Treatment Facility. This advisory applies to Back Bay Biloxi north of the shipping channel from Little Island near Central Avenue west to O'Neal Point near Goodman Road. MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact recreation such as wading or swimming in this area. In addition, people should avoid eating fish or shellfish from this area until further notice.
MDEQ was notified that repair work at the plant led to excessive discharges of solids. While disinfection facilities remained operational, MDEQ conducted sampling in the Bay which indicated high bacteria levels. As a result, MDEQ is issuing this advisory. The repair work at the facility has been completed and MDEQ staff is continuing to collect samples from the area to determine the severity and extent of the problem. The advisory will be lifted when water sampling shows acceptable bacteria levels.
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