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:
Great Cruz Bay and Frank Bay on St. John
Coki Point and Water Bay on St. Thomas
Frederiksted Public Beach on St. Croix.
Please note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
Gentle Winds on St. Croix (due to sargassum seaweed)
Frenchman’s Bay on St. Thomas (due to field vehicle issues)
Therefore, the water quality at these beaches is unknown.
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 35 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Nov. 16 – Nov. 20. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing:
St. Croix
Stony Ground
Chenay Bay
Princess-Condo Row
Dorsch Beach
Ha’ penny Beach
Shoy’s Beach
Sprat Hall
Protestant Cay
Cramer’s Park
Rainbow Beach
Buccaneer
Grapetree Beach
New Fort (Fort Louise Augusta)
Cane Bay
Pelican Cove (Cormorant)
St. Thomas
Lindbergh Bay
Sapphire Beach
Lindqvist Beach
Bolongo Bay
Vessup Bay
Frenchman’s Bay
Secret Harbor
Magens Bay
Bluebeard’s Beach
Brewers Bay
Hull Bay
Water Island
Honeymoon Beach (Druif)
St. John
Cruz Bay
Oppenheimer
Johnson Bay
All persons should also be aware that stormwater runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health; therefore, all persons should avoid areas of stormwater runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins) or any area that 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 340-773-1082 on St. Croix or 340-514-1960 on St. Thomas.
