MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisory for Big Black River
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Wednesday for a segment of the Big Black River in Madison and Hinds counties. The advisory extends from where the river intersects Burnt Corn Creek just above the railroad crossing near Kearney Park in Flora to the intersection of the river with I-20 in the Edwards and Flowers area.
The advisory is being issued due to the failure of an effluent pipe at the West Madison Utility District’s lagoon near Kearney Park and the release of wastewater into the river. The utility district is working on repairs, but water quality monitoring done by MDEQ today indicates that these waters could be unsafe for human contact or consumption. MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact such as swimming, wading, and fishing. People should also avoid eating fish or anything else taken from these waters until further notice.
MDEQ will continue to monitor the water quality in the river and will revise the advisory as needed.
