Heading to the beach this weekend? The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (D.P.N.R.) has issued its weekly advisory, with this weekend's issuance coming a day earlier than usual, as the territory is set to recognize the Veterans Day holiday on Friday (women are being honored this year), with parades territory-wide on Saturday.
The government department/agency said 5 of the territory's beaches were deemed unsafe this weekend because they exceeded the established enterococci bacteria threshold considered as safe. They include the following:
St. Croix
Shoys
St. Thomas
Secret Harbor, Water Bay, Coki Point and Brewer’s Bay
Meanwhile, D.P.N.R. said the water quality of another 8 beaches could not be tested because "access to them or the use of their waters pose a risk to health and safety." These untested beaches are:
St. Croix
Rainbow, Stoney Ground, Chenay Bay, Grapetree Bay, Halfpenny and Protestant Cay.
St. Thomas
Frenchman’s and Bay Morningstar.
Now for the beaches deemed safe for swimming and fishing this weekend, which D.P.N.R.'s tests concluded are most of the territory's waters.
St. Croix
Cramer’s Park, Pelican Cove (Comorant), Cane Bay, Frederiksted Public Beach, Dorsch, Princess, Condo Row, Buccaneer, Spratt Hall, New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta) and Gentle Winds.
St. Thomas
Lindquist, Magen’s Bay, Vessup Bay, Bluebeard’s, Limetree, Hull Bay, Sapphire, Lindbergh Bay and Bolongo Bay.
St. John
Cruz Bay, Oppenheimer, Great Cruz Bay, Frank Bay and Johnson Bay.
D.P.N.R. said all persons should be aware that storm water runoff due to hurricanes and tropical storms may contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health due to storm debris, and therefore all persons should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles, and drainage basins). The government agency said it 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.
