Reflections: Mississippi Water Quality Improvement Programs

2025-03-31

Reflections on Restoration Progress
RESTORE Council- 2025

Mississippi Water Quality Improvement Programs

 

Clean water is essential for healthy and prosperous Gulf communities. The RESTORE Council is making significant investments aimed at improving water quality across the Gulf coast. For example, the State of Mississippi, through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), is implementing large-scale water quality improvement programs, utilizing $29.1 million in RESTORE funding from both the Council-Selected Restoration and the Spill Impact Components. Program activities include completing planning and construction projects to implement septic-to-sewer conversions, new stormwater and wastewater systems, and repairs/upgrades to existing stormwater and wastewater systems.

Closeup of water quality improvement project

The RESTORE Council invests in water quality improvements, reducing the pollution entering the waters of the Gulf Coast.

Water quality degradation in Mississippi coastal waters is caused by elevated bacteria, nutrient pollution, and associated hypoxia often attributed to urban runoff, discharge, and overflow issues associated with aging infrastructure or insufficient wastewater management. The conversion of septic-to-sewer and implementation of stormwater and wastewater improvements under this program will reduce pollutant loads to downstream coastal water bodies, resulting in water quality and fishery habitats improvements, improved conditions for water recreation activities along the coast, and benefits to the economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. A total of 11 projects are currently underway.

Aerial view of coastal Mississippi beaches and wetlands

The state of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Water Quality Improvement Program supports the restoration and protection of natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and wetlands of coastal Mississippi. Photo Credit: Mississippi State

The RESTORE Council is commemorating 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill  incident with a month-long reflection on its progress to date implementing meaningful ecosystem and economic restoration across the Gulf Coast. Subscribe to our eBlast or Modify your eBlast subscription. 

Keala J. Hughes
Director of External Affairs & Tribal Relations
(504) 717-7235
keala.hughes@restorethegulf.gov