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Warning raised on San Roque beach
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Posted on Jan 19 2001
The Division of Environmental Quality yesterday raised the Red Flag in a beach near the San Roque school following laboratory analysis which disclosed that water in the area contained excessive concentrations of two fecal indicator bacteria.
According to an advisory released by DEQ, the beach near the San Roque school has high concentrations of fecal coliform and Enterococci that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards.
DEQ said these bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water, as it advised the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of this location for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
The advisory reads that the bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water although 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.
DEQ analyzes samples of marine recreational and storm drainage water from 26 locations on the Saipan’s Coast.
