Previous Story
Red flag up in 3 locations
|
Posted on Mar 16 2001
The Division of Environmental Quality has advised the public not to swim or fish within 300 feet of the Garapan Fishing Dock, Garapan Drainage # 1 and the South Puerto Rico Dump.
In a weekly report from DEQ laboratory supervisor Clarissa O. Tanaka, it was determined that samples from the three locations showed excessive concentrations of two fecal indicator bacteria — fecal coliform and Enterococci — that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards.
The DEQ has strictly warned tourists, locals and fishermen not to swim or even catch fish within 300 feet of the locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
Although, acknowledging the presence of bacteria in the three locations may have been caused by the seeping of human and animal wastes in the water, the DEQ, however, clarified that the bacteria may have come from the natural environment.
Studies have shown that storm water runoff in tropical environments may also contain these bacteria from the natural surroundings. The DEQ analyzes samples of marina recreational and storm drainage water from 36 locations on the Saipan coast. (MR)
