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 31 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of March 9-13, 2020. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Stony Ground
Chenay Bay
Princess (Condo Row)
Cramer’s Park
Frederiksted Public Beach
Grapetree Bay
Pelican Cove (Comorant)
Ha ‘penny
Protestant Cay
Shoy’s
St. Thomas
Bolongo Bay
Frenchman’s Bay
Brewers Bay
Lindqvist
Hull Bay
Sapphire
Magens Bay
Vessup Bay
Bluebeard’s
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. Croix
Dorsch Beach
Rainbow Beach
Cane Bay
St. Thomas
Lindbergh Bay
Coki Point
Water Bay
Secret Harbor
St. John
Great Cruz Bay
Please Note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
- New Fort (Fort Louise Augusta) and Buccaneer 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.