Sewage dump affects river in Mississippi, Louisiana

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. – A levee breach at a wastewater treatment plant in Brookhaven, Mississippi, has dumped six million gallons of diluted sewage into the Bogue Chitto river. That prompted water quality warnings along that river, which is popular for recreational use, from southwest Mississippi into southeast Louisiana.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality says the city has made repairs since Friday’s breach, ending the flow of sewage, which was diluted by storm water. But the department warned against swimming, wading or eating fish from the Bogue Chitto until further notice.

Louisiana’s departments of Health and Environmental Quality issued a similar warning Saturday.

Dr. Jimmy Guidry, Louisiana’s state Health Officer, said the sewage release can result in elevated levels of harmful bacteria that can cause diarrhea, sore throats, stomach cramps or vomiting.