Marine Water Quality Report

MARINE WATER QUALITY REPORT

For the week of November 26, 2007

The Division of Environmental Quality has raised the red flag on 16 sites on Saipan and 1 site on Rota and advises the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.

Samples collected from

1. Jefferies Beach

2. North Laulau Beach

3. South Laulau Beach

4. Tanapag Meeting Hall

5. Central Repair Shop

6. DPW Channel Bridge

7. S. Puerto Rico Dump

8. Smiling Cove Marina

9. Am Memorial Park

10. Dai Ichi Drainage

11. Samoa Housing

12. Grand Hotel

13. Sugar Dock

14. CK Dist #2 Drainage

15. CK Dist #4 Drainage

16. San Antonio Lift Station

17. Rota District #2 Drainage

contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria-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.

Managaha waters are assigned a green flag.

DEQ analyzes samples of marine recreational and storm drainage water from 38 locations on Saipan, 10 on Tinian , and analyzes a total of 11 samples from the shore surrounding Managaha. The agency welcomes all inquiries as to the quality of the beach water. The public is encouraged to contact DEQ at 664-8500 with any questions concerning this matter.