(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality analyzed water samples collected from Saipan’s recreational beaches and storm drainages every Wednesday.
Samples collected from Plumeria Hotel, Central Repair Shop, Sea Plane Ramp, DPW Channel Bridge, Micro Beach, Hafa-Adai Hotel, Drainage #2 (Hafa-Adai Hotel Drainage), Garapan Fishing Dock, Garapan Beach, Chalan Laulau Beach, Sugar Dock, Chalan Piao and Hopwood School Beach contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria — enterococci — that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards. These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water.
DEQ has given the following locations 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.