FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2012
Contact: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES WATER CONTACT ADVISORIES FOR TWO LOCATIONS
Two Advisories Lifted
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, issued water contact advisories today for two sampling stations in Harrison County. This segment of beach is not closed; however, there may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in those areas. MDEQ is working closely with local officials to advise residents that the water in the following location may have high bacteria levels:
●Station 11A in Biloxi -- Edgewater Beach near Eisenhower Drive – it extends from Edgewater Avenue on the east to Debuys Road on the west.
●Station 10A in Gulfport -- Courthouse Road Beach near Courthouse Road west parking lot – it extends from the VA Main Entrance eastward to Courthouse Road. This advisory was issued February 22 and remains in effect.
When water samples show that levels are safe for human contact, the advisories will be lifted. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, which performs water sampling of the Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches for MDEQ, notifies the agency when an area has returned to acceptable levels.
Additionally, 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.
Advisories have been lifted for two stations in Hancock County that were issued February 25:
●Station 3 -- Waveland Beach near Vacation Lane -- from Oak Boulevard eastward to Farve Street.
●Station 4 -- Bay St. Louis Beach near St. Charles Street -- from the box culvert eastward to Ballantine Street.
More information on the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program:
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/msbeach/index.cgi.
To receive beach advisories directly, send an email to rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us for inclusion in a public group email list or follow MDEQ on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ.
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