(BECQ) — The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality analyzed water samples collected from Saipan’s east and south recreational beaches this week.
Samples collected from the following locations contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria or enterococci that exceeded the CNMI marine water quality standards. These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water.
However, 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, BECQ 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:
Grotto Cave
Bird Island
Hidden Beach
Jeffrey’s Beach
Old Man by the Sea
North Laulau Beach
