Frederiksted Beach By. ERNICE GILBERT/VI CONSORTIUM
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, in its weekly beach advisory, revealed that five beaches territory-wide failed to meet the criteria to be deemed safe for swimming and fishing. According to D.P.N.R., the Frederiksted Public Beach and Stony Ground on St. Croix failed the test, which samples Enterococci Bacteria and Turbidity and is a measure of water clarity. On St. Thomas, Frank Bay, Great Cruz Bay and Johnson Bay failed as well.
Most of the waters tested were safe, however. They include the following, per island:
St. Croix
Shoy’s, Rainbow, Cane Bay, New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta), Protestant Cay, Cramer’s Park, Princess (Condo Row), Grapetree Bay, Dorsch Beach, Buccaneer, Pelican Cove (Cormorant), Halfpenny and Chenay Bay.
St. Thomas
Hull Bay, Lindquist, Sapphire, Brewer’s Bay, Coki Point, Lindbergh Bay, Bluebeard’s, Magen’s Bay, Water Bay, Frenchman’s Bay, Secret Harbor, Bolongo and Vessup Bay.
St. John
Cruz Bay, Oppenheimer and Frank Bay.
Sprat Hall, Gentle Winds and Columbus Landing (Salt River) on St. Croix, along with Limetree Bay and Morning Star on St. Thomas were not tested, and therefore their water condition remains unknown, D.P.N.R. said.
D.P.N.R. said all persons should 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) 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 in St. Croix or 774-3320 in St. Thomas.