Another Mississippi Coast beach ruled unsafe for contact by the state, bringing total to 4

Editor’s note: On March 19, The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted beach water contact advisories for Bay St. Louis Beach and Biloxi East Central Beach.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality this week issued water contact advisories for Bay St. Louis Beach, Pass Christian Central Beach and Biloxi East Central Beach.

Bay St. Louis Beach and Pass Christian Central Beach were previously the subject of an advisory last month. None of the beaches are closed. The department often issues advisories out of caution when routine tests find higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in the water.

The department tests for Enterococcus, bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of some animals. Enterococcus is not harmful to humans but may indicate that bacteria from wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, recreational boat sewage or other fecal contaminants are in the water.

Cracked septic tanks, overflowing manholes and crumbling sewer lines can all release untreated wastewater into roadside ditches, where storm water drains eventually carry it past Highway 90 and into the Mississippi Sound. The bacteria can also come from wildlife, such as a pelican colony on a pier.

The advisory in Bay St. Louis extends from the box culvert east to Ballantine Street. The Pass Christian advisory is between Henderson Avenue to Hiern Avenue. The Biloxi advisory extends from St. Peter Street to Dukate Street.

A previous advisory remains in effect for Long Beach, from Oak Garden Avenue through Girard Avenue.

It is unclear what caused the recent advisories, but testing often turns up bacteria at Mississippi Coast beaches after rain. The Department of Environmental Quality warns swimming during an advisory can increase the risk of illness. The advisories have also frustrated some beach business owners who are dependent on swimmers and tourism.

Here’s the full list of advisories issued this year:

Feb. 13: Three water contact advisories were issued: for Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and Long Beach. The advisories in Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis lifted Feb. 26.

Feb. 6: The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a water contact advisory at Gulfport West Beach. The advisory lifted Feb. 12. The agency also issued an advisory at Waveland Beach, which lifted Feb. 26.

Jan. 17: The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued an advisory at Front Beach in Ocean Springs. The advisory ended Jan. 29.

Reporter Martha Sanchez contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM.