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:
SAFE FOR SWIMMING OR FISHING
DPNR performed water quality analysis at
18
designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of
October
18 - 22,
2021
.
The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Thomas
- Bluebeard’s Beach
- Bolongo Bay
- Brewer’s Bay
- Coki Point
- Hull Bay
- Limetree Bay
- Lindbergh Bay
- Lindquist Beach
- Magen’s Bay
- Morningstar Beach
- Sapphire Beach
- Secret Harbor
- Vessup Bay
Water Island
NOT CONSIDERED TO BE SAFE FOR SWIMMING OR FISHING
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:
- Cruz Bay, Frank Bay, Oppenheimer, Great Cruz Bay, and Johnson Bay on St. John.
- Water Bay on St. Thomas.
WATER QUALITY UNKNOWN
Please Note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
- Frenchman’s Bay on St. Thomas.
- All Beaches on St. Croix.
Therefore, the water quality of these beaches, is unknown.
NOTES
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 in St. Croix
or 774-3320 in St. Thomas.