The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) announces that the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, which evaluates weekly water quality at popular swimming beaches throughout the territory by sampling for enterococci bacteria and turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following:
DPNR performed water quality analysis at 36 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of May 8-12, 2017. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Protestant Cay
Cramer Park
Pelican Cove (Comorant)
Rainbow
Chenay Bay
Cane Bay
Stoney Ground
Frederiksted Public Beach
Dorsch
Princess Condo Row
Shoy’s
Buccaneer
Ha’ penny
New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta)
Grapetree Bay
Columbus Landing
Spratt Hall
St. Thomas
Coki Point
Bolongo Bay
Lindqvist
Bluebeard’s
Brewers Bay
Magens Bay
Sapphire
Lindbergh Bay
Vessup Bay
Water Bay
Secret Harbor
Limetree Bay
Hull Bay
Frenchman’s Bay
St. John
Cruz Bay
Great Cruz Bay
Johnson Bay
Oppenheimer
The following beach does not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established enterococci bacteria threshold and, therefore, are not considered to be safe for swimming or fishing:
St. John
Frank Bay
Note: Due to heavy rains throughout the later part of this week, the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) anticipates that negative environmental impacts will be caused by storm-water runoff. Therefore, DPNR advises the public to use additional caution when using any coastal waters throughout the territory. It is also advising parents to instruct their children to keep away from storm water-impacted beaches as well as areas with manholes and storm water flooding. There may be an elevated health risk to anyone swimming in storm water-impacted areas because of increased concentrations of bacteria.
