The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) announces that the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, which evaluates weekly water quality at popular swimming beaches throughout the territory by sampling for enterococci bacteria and turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following:
DPNR performed water quality analysis at 32 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of January 27-31, 2020. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Stony Ground
Pelican Cove (Comorant)
Cramer’s Park
Dorsch Beach
Princess (Condo Row)
Ha’ penny
Frederiksted Public Beach
Protestant Cay
New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta)
Rainbow Buccaneer
Shoy’s
Cane Bay
Chenay Bay
Grapetree Bay
St. Thomas
Lindbergh Bay
Bolongo Bay
Frenchman’s Bay
Brewers Bay
Sapphire
Bluebeard’s
Vessup Bay
Hull Bay
Lindqvist
Magens Bay
Secret Harbor
St. John
Cruz Bay
Oppenheimer
Johnson Bay
Frank Bay
The following beaches do not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established Enterococci Bacteria threshold and therefore are not considered to be safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Thomas
Coki Point
St. John
Great Cruz Bay
Please Note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
Sprat Hall, Gentle Winds, Columbus Landing and Teague Bay on St. Croix; Water Bay, Limetree Bay and Morningstar on St. Thomas; therefore, the water quality of these beaches is unknown.
All persons should also be aware that storm water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health and therefore all persons should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins) or if any area appears discolored or has foul odors. DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted areas and waters.
For additional information regarding water quality, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.
