In a Friday press release, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a water contact advisory for Moorhead Bayou and associated floodwaters near the City of Moorhead.
The advisory affects the bayou and associated floodwaters from the eastern boundary of the city to where it converges with the Quiver River. It was issued as a result of the mechanical failure of pumps at the city’s main lift station that has resulted in the discharge of untreated wastewater into the bayou.
This map, provided by DEQ, shows the area under the water contact advisory.
The city is working to repair the pumps.
Moorhead Mayor George Holland told The E-T earlier in the week that crews were on site working on the issue. He said two of their pumps burned up during the recent flood, but new pumps are on the way.
He added that the current fix would be a temporary one until the main work is completed around July or August of this year.
MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact such as swimming, wading, and fishing.
Robbie Wilbur Communications Director, MDEQ, said people should also avoid eating fish or anything else taken from those waters until further notice.
MDEQ is also working with the city to help resolve the matter and monitoring the impact on the area.
