The Department of Planning and Natural Resources 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 18 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Oct. 18 – 22, 2021. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing:
St. Thomas
Coki Point
Sapphire Beach
Lindqvist Beach
Bolongo Bay
Vessup Bay
Bluebeard’s Beach
Magens Bay
Hull Bay
Secret Harbor
Brewers Bay
Lindbergh Bay
The following beaches do not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established enterococci bacteria threshold; therefore, they are not considered to be safe for swimming or fishing:
Cruz Bay, Frank Bay, Oppenheimer, Great Cruz Bay, and Johnson Bay on St. John
Water Bay on St. Thomas.
Please note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
Frenchman’s Bay on St. Thomas
All beaches on St. Croix
Therefore, the water quality at these beaches is unknown.
All persons should be aware that stormwater runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health, and, therefore, 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 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.
