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Alert: Avoid Coastal Waters Affected by Storm Runoff

Aug. 24, 2007 — People should not swim, fish or bathe in coastal waters impacted by storm-water runoff because of ongoing heavy rainfall, according to an advisory from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).
The heavy rains are expected to continue throughout this weekend, says the DPNR’s Division of Environmental Protection (DEP).
“DPNR further advises parents to keep children away from storm-water-impacted beaches, as well as areas with manholes and storm-water flooding,” the advisory says. “There may be an elevated health risk to anyone swimming in storm-water-impacted areas as a result of increased concentrations of bacteria. 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).”
DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted areas and update the public, the advisory says. For more information about water quality, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.
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