The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) has announced 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 31 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Feb. 25 – March 1, 2019. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Cramer’s Park
Shoy’s
New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta)
Chenay Bay
Dorsch
Frederiksted Public Beach
Ha’ penny
Cane Bay
Stony Ground
Pelican Cove (Cormorant) Protestant Cay
Rainbow
Buccaneer
St. Thomas
Magens Bay
Brewers Bay
Sapphire
Lindqvist
Frenchman’s Bay
Secret Harbor
Lindbergh Bay
Water Bay
Vessup Bay
Hull Bay
Bolongo Bay
Bluebeard’s
St. John
Frank Bay
Oppenheimer
Great Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay
The following beaches do 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. Thomas
Coki Point
St. John
Johnson Bay
Please note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
Princess (Condo Row) and Grapetree Bay on St. Croix
Therefore, the water quality of these beaches is unknown.
All persons should also be aware that storm water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health; therefore, all persons should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins) or if any area appears discolored or has foul odors. DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted areas and waters.
For additional information regarding water quality, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.