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Red flag on two beaches
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Posted on Dec 08 2000
The Division of Environmental Quality has raised its red flag on two popular beaches on Saipan, the Dai-Ichi Hotel Beach and the Hidden Beach, to advise residents against swimming or fishing within 300 feet of these sites for the next 48 hours.
According to a DEQ statement, samples collected from the two beaches contained excessive concentrations of two fecal indicator bacteria (fecal coliform and enterococci) that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards.
These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water, which could pose a danger to public health, it said.
Likewise, two other sites — the Aqua Resort Hotel and Smiling Cove Marina — were given yellow flag by environmental officials after samples showed excessive concentrations of at least one of the bacteriological indicators that exceeded standards.
The bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water, DEQ said. However, studies have 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.
As a DEQ policy to safeguard health of the people, officials are advising residents to use caution and avoid full body submersion within 300 feet of these locations.
The warnings will remain for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified, DEQ said. The samples were gathered from Saipan’s 29 recreational beaches and several storm drainage.
DEQ welcomes all inquiries as to the quality of the beach water. The public is encouraged to contact DEQ at 664-8500.
