FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2010
Contact: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES TEMPORARY WATER CONTACT ADVISORY FOR
BOGUE PHALIA
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Monday modified a temporary water contact advisory for portions of Bogue Phalia near Gunnison in Bolivar County that was first issued July 19. The advisory now applies to the Bogue Phalia beginning at the unnamed ditch at Warfield Road near Gunnison downstream (south) to the North Bogue Road bridge near Malvina. The downstream boundary is being shortened based on monitoring data.
This advisory is issued due to a bypass of the town's wastewater treatment system, which resulted in untreated sewage being discharged to the stream. MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact recreation such as wading or swimming in this area. In addition, people should avoid eating fish from this area of the stream until further notice.
MDEQ is working with the Gunnison officials to resolve the problem and prevent the release of wastewater into the stream. MDEQ staff is also collecting 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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