Oct. 22, 2008 — Most territory beaches, including Magens Bay on St. Thomas, are now safe for swimming, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources announced Wednesday.
The Environmental Division of DPNR closed most St. Croix beaches after Hurricane Omar.
DPNR Commissioner Robert Mathes said in his announcement last week that his department cannot close a beach. It can advise that beaches are unsafe until his environmental staff has an opportunity to test the water, he said.
The Magens Bay Authority, however, can make its own assessment. Hubert Brumant, Magens general manger, closed the famous beach after the storm, noting that three guts had broken their banks, running into the sea.
The water was tested this week by Magens' independent testing firm, Auset Water Testing Laboratory, as well as DPNR, Brumant said.
"The results were all negative'," he said. "We had about 1,000 guests today (Wednesday), a three-cruise-ship day."
St. Croix got the brunt of the damage from Hurricane Omar.
"It will probably be several more days, until it stops raining, before we can get a clear reading," Mathes said last week. "It all depends on how quickly the water settles. Typically, after a major rain event, water in the guts picks up everything in its wake and moves it to the shoreline. It's an unfortunate situation, but it's usually 48 to 72 hours."
However, water at the Buccaneer and Duggan's Bay beaches was tested Saturday and found safe, allowing for Sunday's annual Coral Reef Swim.
The water testing is conducted to evaluate the potential impact on water quality from sewage leaks, spills or bypasses in the municipal sewage system or conventional home septic systems as a result of the hurricane, and to identify areas that meet V.I. water-quality standards for recreational purposes, explained Jamal Neilsen, DPNR spokesman, in a news release.
The following areas have been tested and meet DPNR standards:
St. Croix
Stony Ground
Dorsh
Rainbow
Sprat Hall
Davis Bay
Cane Bay
Gentle Winds
Columbus Landing
Pelican Cove (Comorant)
New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta)
Shoy's
Cramers's Park
St. Thomas
Hull Bay
Magens Bay
Coki Point
Water Bay
Lindquist
Sapphire
Vessup Bay
Bluebeards
Secret Harbor
Bolongo Bay
Limetree
Frenchman's Bay
Morningstar
Lindberg Bay
St. John
Oppenhiemer
Klein Bay
Hart Bay
Chocolate Hole
Frank Bay
Cruz Bay
Great Cruz Bay
Johnson's Bay
The following areas have been tested and do not meet V.I. water-quality standards:
St. Croix
Halfpenny
Princess (Condo Row)
Buccaneer
Teague Bay
Chenay Bay
Protestant Cay
Grapetree Bay
Frederiksted Public Beach (First Target)
St. Thomas
Brewer's Bay
There may be an increased health risk to anyone swimming in these areas as a result of an increased concentration of bacteria, DPNR says. Officials advise the public to refrain from using the waters that do not meet the V.I. water-quality standards until the problem is corrected and the public health concern has been alleviated. This includes activities such as fishing and bathing. DPNR is also advising parents to instruct their children to keep away from the above-mentioned area and its impacted beaches.
The department will continue to monitor the coastal waters and inform the public of water quality, Neilsen said. Areas that have not been specifically mentioned either have not been tested or have test results pending. For additional information, call DPNR at 773-1082.
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