FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2011
Contact: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES WATER CONTACT CLOSURE FOR SIMMONS BAYOU
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact closure Friday for Simmons Bayou in Jackson County. This action is being taken due to a sewage overflow from the Gulf Park Estates Sewer System that may affect the bayou. The closure is from the upper reaches near the east end of East Simmons Bayou Drive to its outlet at Davis Bayou. The operators of the system, Total Environmental Solutions, Inc. (TESI), have responded, corrected the overflow, and have begun cleanup operations.
MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact recreation such as swimming or wading in these waters. In addition, people should avoid eating fish, crabs, and shellfish from waters in the immediate vicinity of the closure.
MDEQ is taking water samples and will advise the public when bacteria levels are acceptable for water contact, and the closure will be lifted.
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