Beach Water Contact Advisory - Pass Christian West Beach

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Published April 2nd, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a beach water contact advisory for Pass Christian West Beach (Station 5) due to elevated bacteria levels. The beach remains open but swimmers are warned of increased illness risk. The advisory applies to the area from Fort Henry Ave. east to Elliot St. Four additional advisories remain in effect for other Mississippi beaches.

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What changed

MDEQ Beach Monitoring Program has issued a water contact advisory for Pass Christian West Beach in Harrison County, Mississippi. Water samples showed bacteria levels above safe thresholds for human contact. The advisory zone covers Station 5 from Fort Henry Ave. east to Elliot St. The advisory is not a beach closure—swimming is discouraged but permitted at the public's own risk.

Swimmers should check beaches.mdeq.ms.gov before visiting and avoid swimming during or within 24 hours of significant rainfall. The Beach Task Force maintains a standing recommendation against swimming during these conditions. MDEQ will continue issuing text alerts and press releases through Labor Day (September 7, 2026), after which advisories will be communicated via beach signage and the website only. No compliance actions are required from businesses or regulated entities.

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The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, through its Beach Monitoring Program, has issued a beach water contact advisory for Pass Christian West Beach.

The beach is not closed; however, there may be an increased risk of illness associated with swimming in this area. When water samples show that bacteria levels are safe for contact, the advisory will be lifted.

An ADVISORY has been ISSUED for:

Pass Christian West Beach — the affected area is from Fort Henry Ave. east to Elliot St. (Station 5) Swimmers are reminded that the Beach Task Force has a standing recommendation that swimming should not occur during or within 24 hours of significant rainfall.

Four additional advisories remain in effect for other beaches. More information about the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program and the location of beach sampling stations is available at beaches.mdeq.ms.gov.

Notice: MDEQ will continue issuing beach advisory text alerts and press releases through Labor Day, September 7, 2026. Beginning September 8, 2026, routine advisories outside the peak beach season will be communicated through posted beach signage and the Beach Monitoring website. Advisory information is posted first on beaches.mdeq.ms.gov, making it the fastest place to find updated beach conditions.

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