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Red flag raised on six Saipan sites
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Posted on Jan 14 2005
Results of recent water analysis conducted by the Division of Environmental Quality on Saipan’s recreational beaches and storm drainages show excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci) on six sites that exceeded CNMI Marine Water Quality Standard.
This has prompted DEQ to raise the red flag on the beach area by the San Roque Elementary School, the southern part of the Puerto Rico dump site, the Smiling Cove Marina, north Lau Lau Beach, Obyan Beach, and Jeffries Beach.
The public is urged not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
DEQ explained that the bacteria’s presence indicates the presence of human and animal waste in the water, but stressed that studies have also shown that storm water runoff in tropical environments may also contain these bacteria from the natural environment, which may not be directly associated with public health concerns.
Samples from Rota’s recreational beaches and storm water drainages were also analyzed and found to be within acceptable standard, resulting in a green flag for Rota.
DEQ analyzed samples from 37 recreational beaches and storm drainages as well as 12 east and south beaches on Saipan. DEQ also analyzed samples from 12 locations on Rota.
