Jackson Free Press

If floating, fishing or boating on the Pearl River is part of your upcoming plans, you might want to reconsider, at least for a while

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a temporary water contact advisory today for the Pearl River and several tributaries in the Jackson area, according to a release.

Affected areas include:

* The Pearl River from Lakeland Drive downstream to the bridge crossing the Pearl River in Byram.
* Eubanks Creek from Lakeland Drive to the Pearl River including Mayes Lakes.
* The drainage system formed by the old river channel along the Pearl River Levee between Fortification Street and High Street.
* The drainage ditch and cypress slough south of the State Fairgrounds. This ditch begins south of the fairgrounds and flows south under Pascagoula Street and into the cypress slough.

MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact recreation such as swimming or wading in these waters, and people should thoroughly cook any fish or mussels taken from these areas before serving to kill any bacteria that may be present.

This advisory is the result of the discharge of untreated wastewater from several manholes along a sewer line running from North Jackson to the Savannah Street Wastewater Treatment Plant, due to mechanical problems at the Savannah Street Plant. Recent heavy rainfall and the high waters on the Pearl River have aggravated the situation.

Repairs to the city's system and the likelihood of additional rain means the advisory may be in place for several weeks. MDEQ and city officials are working to correct the problems as quickly as possible. MDEQ staff will continue to monitor bacteria levels and water quality in the river and will revise this advisory when needed.