15 Saipan beaches red-flagged
The Division of Environmental Quality has red-flagged 15 Saipan beaches and is advising the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
Affected sites are Smiling Cove Marina, Samoa Housing, Garapan Fishing Dock, Chalan Laulau Beach, Chalan Kanoa District 2 drain, Fiesta Resort, Hafa Adai Beach Hotel, Garapan Fishing Base drain, San Jose Beach, San Antonio lift station, Fiesta drainage, Hafa Adai drainage, Garapan Beach, Civic Center Beach, Chalan Kanoa District 4 Lally Beach.
Samples collected from these locations contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci) that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards. These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water. (DEQ)
