FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2011
Contact: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES WATER CONTACT CLOSURE FOR LOCATION IN LONG BEACH
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), is working with the City of Long Beach and the Harrison County Sand Beach Department to advise residents that a water contact closure has been issued for a section of beach in Long Beach. The City of Long Beach reported a sewer bypass discharging onto the beach near Lang Avenue. Efforts are underway to stop the bypass and minimize the amount of sewage reaching the Mississippi Sound. The closure extends from South Seashore Avenue on the west to South Island View Avenue on the east.
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.
A closure issued May 31 is still in effect for a section of beach from 41st Avenue near the West Side Pier east to 33rd Avenue near the Island View Casino in Gulfport. The closure is issued due to a sewage spill which flowed across the beach. The spill has been stopped by the Harrison County Utility Authority, but the notice has been issued because a large amount of sewage flowed across the beach near 38th Avenue. 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.
# # #
|