EPA, MDEQ to Address Water Contamination in Northern Mississippi
Key Points
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have scheduled a community meeting for March 5 to address trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination.
- The contamination affects private drinking water wells in DeSoto and Marshall counties, particularly near the town of Byhalia.
- Federal and state agencies are coordinating the delivery of bottled water and whole-house filtration systems to affected residents.
BYHALIA, Miss. – Federal and state environmental officials will meet with residents in northern Mississippi this Thursday to provide updates on a growing response to chemical contamination in private drinking water wells.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) are investigating the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE), a volatile organic compound often used as an industrial solvent. The contamination has been detected in several residential wells across DeSoto and Marshall counties, centered near the Byhalia area.
Recent testing confirmed that some wells contain TCE levels exceeding the federal drinking water limit of 5 parts per billion. In response, the EPA is working alongside state partners to provide impacted households with bottled water and whole-house filtration units.
“The EPA is continuing to sample residential wells in the area of interest, while MDEQ works to determine the source and extent of this contamination,” the agency stated in a release.
The upcoming community meeting, scheduled for March 5, aims to inform the public about long-term mitigation strategies and health risks associated with the chemical. TCE exposure has been linked to various health issues, including liver and kidney damage, as well as increased cancer risks with prolonged exposure.
Residents within the affected zip codes are encouraged to attend to receive the latest sampling results and sign up for additional well testing.
