MDEQ Lifts Beach Water Contact Advisory in Gulfport

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, lifted a water contact advisory Wednesday for Station 10B (East Courthouse Road Beach) in Gulfport. Water samples at this station show the area has attained acceptable bacteria levels. There are currently no advisories in effect across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The advisory is lifted for:

• Station 10B — East Courthouse Road Beach (Gulfport) — the extent is from Courthouse Rd. east to Tegarden Rd.

An advisory is issued when bacteria levels exceed water quality criteria and pose an increased risk to human health. Under the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program, water is tested for the presence of Enterococcus bacteria, which is an indicator for bacteria pollution. When an advisory is issued, water contact should be avoided. The Beach Task Force has a standing recommendation that swimming not occur during or within 24 hours of a significant rainfall event.