(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality analyzed water samples collected from Tinian’s recreational beaches and storm drainage this week.
Samples collected from Unai Babui (03) contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria — enterococci — that exceeded the CNMI’s Marine Water Quality Standards.
These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water.
Studies have shown that storm water runoff in tropical environments may also contain these bacteria from the natural environment, which may not be directly associated with public health concerns.
Still, to adequately address public health concerns, DEQ has given the following location a red flag and advises the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
On Rota, none of the samples collected from the recreational beaches and storm water drainages contained excessive concentration of fecal indicator bacteria nor did they exceed the CNMI’s marine water quality standards.
DEQ assigned all of the sampled beachsites a green flag.