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12 Saipan beaches red-flagged
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Posted on Sep 25 2008
The Division of Environment Quality has raised the red flag on 12 beach sites on Saipan and is advising the public not fish or swim 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
The affected sites are the beaches by the Palms Resort Saipan, Tanapag Meeting Hall, Central Repair Shop, DPW Channel Bridge, South Puerto Rico, American Memorial Park, Micro Beach, Hafa Adai Hotel, Garapan Fishing Dock, Garapan Beach Drainage, Sugar Dock, and CK Dist #2 Drainage.
Samples collected from these locations were found to contain excessive concentrations of enterococci that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards. These fecal indicator bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water. However, studies have shown that storm water runoff in tropical environments may also contain these bacteria from the natural environment.
This week, DEQ analyzed samples of marine recreational and storm drainage water collected from 38 locations on Saipan’s coast. For more information, contact DEQ at 664-8500. [B][I](DEQ)[/I][/B]
