MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisory for Sections of Sowashee and Okatibbee Creeks

MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisory for Sections of Sowashee and Okatibbee Creeks

(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory today for sections of Sowashee Creek and Oktibbee Creek in the City of Meridian.  The advisory is issued for Sowashee Creek from Russell Drive to its confluence with Okatibbee Creek then to Arundel Road.  Also included in the advisory is a section of Okatibbee Creek from Old Highway 80 to the Arundel Road stream crossing and for a section of Robbins Branch from the intersection of 19^th Avenue and Cherokee Road to this stream’s confluence with Sowashee Creek near 22^nd Avenue (see attached map).

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.

The advisory is being issued due to ongoing sanitary sewer overflows discharging diluted wastewater into Sowashee Creek.  The city is working on repairs to these issues.

MDEQ staff will begin collecting water samples and continue to monitor the water quality in the area.  The advisory may be revised as needed.

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