Jan. 9, 2004 – The Planning and Natural Resources Department began the week on Monday by announcing that the Lagoon Street pump station was not functioning, that untreated sewage was flowing into the sea at the Frederiksted public beach, and that the public should avoid the beach, Frederiksted pier and Lagoon Street gut areas.
The department ended the week on Friday afternoon by announcing that nothing had changed.
According to the release from the department's Environmental Protection Division issued on Friday afternoon, the Lagoon Street pump station "is still offline." And the station's "gravity feed line is still sending sewage to the receiving waters of the Frederiksted public beach."
For the last several days of the 2003-04 Crucian Christmas Festival, which came to a close on Tuesday night, the reek of sewage in the gut running along the right side of "Bradyville" permeated the Village.
Friday's advisory, like the one issued on Monday, said that "standing or running water" in the beach, pier and gut areas "may contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to public health" and that individuals with "compromised immune systems" especially should avoid these locales. And it, too, stated that more information can be obtained by calling the DPNR Environmental Protection Division at 773-1082.
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