CASES of beach bacterial contamination have gone up by 115 percent on Saipan in fiscal year 2001 compared to the previous fiscal year.
Latest data from the Division of Environmental Quality showed 194 violations of the CNMI Water Quality Standards in FY 2001.
This marked a 115 percent increase from FY 2000’s 90 reported violations, according to the DEQ data, a copy of which was obtained yesterday by Variety.
“This figure will continue to go up unless we do something to protect our environment,” said Frances Castro, manager of DEQ’s non-point source pollution unit.
The excessive concentration of fecal coliform bacteria indicates the presence of human and animal waste, DEQ said.
Topping the list of beach sites that violated the local water quality standards are the Department of Public Works Channel Bridge and Drainage #1 which is next to Dai-Ichi Hotel—both with 17 cases each.
They are followed by Garapan Fishing Dock and Sugar Dock with 14 violations each.
The beach site near G.T. Camacho Elementary School in San Roque had 10 cases of violations. Tanapag meeting hall beach had nine cases. Dai-Ichi Hotel beach had eight.
Sites with no reported violations in 2001 included the beach at the back of Saipan Grand Hotel, the Grotto Cave, Jeffrey’s Beach, Old Man by the Sea Beach, Forbidden Island Beach, Laulau Beach, Obyan Beach and Ladder Beach.
Clarissa O. Tanaka, laboratory manager of DEQ, said red flags had been raised at 40 Saipan beach sites in 2001 due to the concentration of fecal bacteria that exceeded the water quality standards.
Once a beach site is declared to be under the red flag, DEQ will warn the public against fishing or swimming within 300 ft. of this location.
Tanaka said water samples collected from beach sites “should not exceed a geometric mean of 35 bacteria per 100 milliliters.”
Out of the samples collected in 2000, 7 percent or 90 samples were found in violation of the water quality standards.
In 2001, the total violation was 12 percent or 194 of the 1,609 samples collected.
While the government and private sector had stepped up efforts to prevent non-point source pollution from affecting the lagoon, violations continue to increase, Tanaka said.
The San Roque beach near the school, for example, had been cited 13 times for water quality violations between Oct. 2001 and April 10.
“This is something that we really need to look at,” said Tanaka.
The CNMI tourism industry may also suffer as a result of excessive bacteria in the water, she added.
Tourists use CNMI beaches for diving, snorkeling, swimming, parasailing and other water sports activities.
Brian G. Bearden, DEQ environmental engineer, said the problems can be resolved by cleaning the runoffs and preventing the discharge to the shoreline.
Contributing to the contamination of beach sites are the improper disposal of used oil and other toxic substances; the excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers, cleaning agents and other chemicals; faulty septic systems, littering, land clearing without the necessary permits and driving cars that have leaks.
Castro said DEQ’s objective is to minimize and control non-point source pollution from entering into receiving waters.
She called on the community to stop littering on or around the storm drainage, to hook up to sewer line systems, avoid the use of toxic cleaners around business and residential establishments, and get involved in cleanup activities.
