FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robbie Wilbur
November 10, 2010 601/961-5277
MDEQ ISSUES WATER CONTACT ADVISORY FOR BAY ST. LOUIS BEACH
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a temporary water contact advisory Wednesday for the Bay St. Louis beach in Hancock County. The advisory extends from Ballantine Street west to Beinville Drive which includes beach monitoring station 4 in Bay St. Louis. The advisory is issued due to a known sewer bypass from a malfunctioning pump station between Breeden Place and Ramoneda Street. The bypass was discovered the morning of November 10 and may have allowed sewage to enter the Mississippi Sound near Bay Oaks Drive.
MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact recreation such as wading or swimming in these areas. In addition, people should avoid eating fish, crabs, and shellfish from near shore waters in this area until the advisory is lifted.
The City of Bay St. Louis has stopped the bypass and initiated repair and clean up activities to minimize impacts on water quality.
MDEQ staff will sample the area to determine the severity and extent of the problem. The advisory will be lifted when water sampling shows bacteria levels are within acceptable levels.
###
|