Green flags for Rota beaches

The Division of Environmental Quality has raised green flags for waters off the coast of Rota, according to a marine water quality report issued by the agency Friday.

This after water samples collected the past week were analyzed and found not to have excessive concentration of fecal indicator bacteria or did not exceed the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards.

“Therefore, DEQ assigns all of the sampled beach sites a green flag. Enjoy our waters,” DEQ said in a statement.

Samples were taken from 12 marine recreational beaches and storm drainages.

Earlier, DEQ raised red flags for four areas along the coast of Saipan and urged the public to stay away from the areas.

Samples collected from the beach by the Central Repair Shop, as well as the Department of Public Works channel bridge, the southern section of the Puerto Rico Dump, and the drainage by the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria—enterococci—that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards.