MDEQ issues warning, but doesn’t close, Coast beaches

HARRISON COUNTY — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, has issued water contact advisories for two sampling stations in Harrison County.

These segments of beach are 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 locations may have high bacteria levels:

• Station 10A — Courthouse Road Beach in Gulfport, from the old VA main entrance east to Courthouse Road

• Station 11A — Edgewater Beach in Biloxi, from Debuys Road east to Edgewater Avenue

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.