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 34 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Oct. 8-12, 2018. 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)
Buccaneer
Chenay Bay
Ha’ penny
Dorsch
Frederiksted Public Beach
Cane Bay
Pelican Cove (Cormorant) Protestant Cay
Rainbow
Gentle Winds
Princess Condo Row
St. Thomas
Magens Bay
Brewers Bay
Lindbergh Bay
Sapphire
Coki Point
Bolongo
Vessup Bay
Bolongo Bay
Secret Harbor
Hull Bay
Lindqvist
Frenchman’s Bay
Morningstar
St. John
Great 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
Bluebeard’s
Water Bay
St. John
Johnson Bay
Frank Bay
Oppenheimer
Cruz Bay
Please note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches: Stoney Ground 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 and therefore all persons should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins). 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.