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 32 designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of Jan. 7-11, 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
Princess Condo Row
Dorsch
Frederiksted Public Beach
Ha’ penny
Cane Bay
Pelican Cove (Cormorant)
Protestant Cay
Rainbow
Grapetree Bay
Buccaneer
St. Thomas
Magens Bay
Brewers Bay
Sapphire
Lindqvist
Frenchman’s Bay
Bolongo Bay
Coki Point
Water Bay
Vessup Bay
Lindbergh Bay
Hull Bay
St. John
Frank Bay
Johnson Bay
Oppenheimer
Great Cruz Bay
The following beaches do not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established enterococci bacteria threshold; therefore, they are not considered to be safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Thomas
Bluebeard’s
Secret Harbor
St. John
Cruz Bay
Please note: Samples were not collected at the following beach: Stoney Ground on St. Croix. Therefore, the water quality of this beach is unknown.
All persons should also be aware that storm water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health and 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.
