13 Saipan beach sites red-flagged
The Division of Environment Quality has red-flagged the Plumeria Hotel, Tanapag Meeting Hall, Central Repair Shop, DPW Channel Bridge, S. Puerto Rico Dump, Smiling Cove Marina, American Memorial Park, Fiesta Resort Drainage, Hafadai Beach Hotel, Hafadai Drainage, Garapan Fishing Dock, Garapan Beach, Garapan Beach Drainage, and Sugar Dock 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.
DEQ said that samples collected from these locations had 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. Water samples were taken from 38 locations on Saipan coast every Wednesday. For more information, contact DEQ at 664-8500. [I](DEQ)[/I]
