State issues new water contact advisory at this Mississippi Coast beach. Here’s why

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has issued a water contact advisory at Gulfport West Beach.

The beach is still open. But the department said tests had detected higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in the water and swimming there could bring “increased risk of illness.”

The advisory extends from Marie Avenue to Camp Avenue.

The department tests for 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.

The MDEQ’s Beach Monitoring Program often finds the bacteria at Coast beaches, especially after rain.

The MDEQ said it last sampled water from Gulfport West Beach on Wednesday morning.

The advisory will lift when water samples show bacteria levels have decreased.

This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM.