FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2011
CONTACT: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES WATER CONTACT ADVISORY FOR TURKEY CREEK IN GULFPORT
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a temporary water contact advisory Wednesday afternoon for Turkey Creek in Gulfport from the U.S. Highway 49 bridge downstream to Gulfport Lake. This advisory is being issued due to a broken sewer line that is discharging untreated wastewater to Turkey Creek.
MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact recreation such as wading or swimming in these areas. In addition, people should avoid eating fish from these waters until further notice.
The leak occurred in a twenty-four inch force main near the north end of Louisiana Avenue. The Utility Authority contractor and the City of Gulfport are working to get the problem repaired and minimize impact on the stream. MDEQ will be monitoring bacteria levels in the stream, and the advisory will be lifted when water sampling shows bacteria levels have dropped to acceptable levels. # # # |