Avoid swimming at these Hancock and Harrison county beaches, Mississippi officials warn

Martha Sanchez
·2 min read

All along the white sands and warm breezes of Mississippi Coast beaches, there’s one, familiar problem: scientists have found bacteria in the water — again.

Three beaches — Waveland, Bay St. Louis and Gulfport Harbor — are under new water contact advisories this week after the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said it found higher-than-normal levels of bacteria.

The beaches are not closed. But officials warn anyone who swims may face increased risk of illness, and the warnings were the latest of several already issued this year.

Bacteria is still in the water at Pass Christian West Beach, Central Beach and East Beach, and also at Long Beach and Gulfport West Beach, according to the MDEQ.

Eight beaches across the Mississippi Coast are under water contact advisories after the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality found high levels of bacteria. Screenshot from MDEQ
Eight beaches across the Mississippi Coast are under water contact advisories after the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality found high levels of bacteria. Screenshot from MDEQ

Mississippi’s Beach Monitoring Program tests water 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 tests water at beaches in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. The program issues advisories when tests find unsafe levels of bacteria.

The MDEQ’s Beach Task Force also warns against swimming within 24 hours of heavy rainfall. The MDEQ said the warnings would lift as soon as water samples show bacteria levels are safe.

Here’s the full list of beaches under advisories:

  • Waveland Beach: the affected area is from Oak Blvd. east to Favre St. (Station 3)

  • Bay St. Louis Beach: the affected area is from the Box Culvert east to Ballantine St. (Station 4)

  • Gulfport Harbor Beach: the affected area is from 20th Ave. east to Thornton Ave. (Station 9)

  • Pass Christian West Beach: the affected area is from Fort Henry Ave. east to Elliot St. (Station 5)

  • Pass Christian Central Beach: the affected area is from Henderson Ave. east to Hiern Ave. (Station 6)

  • Pass Christian East Beach: the affected area is from Espy Ave. east to Hayden Ave. (Station 7)

  • Long Beach: the affected area is from Oak Garden Ave. east to Girard Ave. (Station 7A)

  • Gulfport West Beach: the affected area is from Marie Ave. east to Camp Ave. (Station 8)