On Wednesday, Dec. 3, DEQ raised the red flag at 10 sites on Saipan and advises the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
The following beach sites are assigned a red flag: Wing Beach, Tanapag Meeting Hall, Central Repair Shop, DPW Channel Bridge, Micro Beach, Dai-Ichi Drainage, Garapan Fishing Dock, Jeffry’s Beach, Old Man by The Sea, and Unai Dangkolo.
DEQ said samples collected at these areas contained excessive concentration of fecal indicator bacteria-enterococci that exceeded CNMI Marine Water Quality Standard.
These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water, DEQ said. However, it added, 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.
Clarrisa Bearden, laboratory personnel, said Tinian and Managaha sites are scheduled for testing this month.
