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 22 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Sept. 16 – Sept. 20, 2024.
The following beaches meet water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing:
St. Croix
Dorsch Beach
Ha ‘penny Beach
Protestant Cay
Frederiksted Public Beach
New Fort (Fort Louise Augusta)
Sprat Hall
Chenay Bay
Stony Ground
Rainbow Beach
Shoy’s
Cramer’s Park
Cane Bay
Pelican Cove (Comorant)
Buccaneer Beach
Princess (Condo Row)
St. Thomas
Sapphire Beach
Secret Harbor
Bolongo Bay
Lindqvist Beach
Bluebeard’s Beach
Vessup Bay
The following beach does not meet water quality standards because it exceeds the established enterococci bacteria threshold and, therefore, is not considered safe for swimming or fishing:
- Frenchman’s Bay on St. Thomas.
Please note: Samples were not collected on the following beaches:
- Water Bay on St. Thomas
- Honeymoon Beach on Water Island
- Columbus Landing on St. Croix
- Grapetree Bay on St. Croix
- Coki Point on St. Thomas.
Due to an issue with the lab, the collected samples from the following beaches were unable to be analyzed:
- Lindbergh Bay on St. Thomas
- Brewers Bay on St. Thomas
- Hull Bay on St. Thomas
- Magens Bay on St. Thomas
- All beaches on St. John.
Therefore, the water quality at these beaches is unknown.
For additional information regarding water quality, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.