Guam News - Guam News
Written by News Release Saturday, 25 May 2013 09:24
Swimming, fishing or playing in unsafe waters may result in minor illnesses such as sore throats or diarrhea. It might also result in more serious illnesses such as meningitis, encephalitis, or severe gastroenteritis.
Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems have a greater chance of getting sick when they come in contact with contaminated water.
The results of 44 samples taken by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday May 23, identified that the following recreational waters as polluted above the accepted bacteriological standards.
BEACH ADVISORIES: 13
- TAMUNING: East Hagåtña Bay - Alupang Towers Beach, East Hagåtña Bay - Trinchera Beach
- ASAN: Asan Bay Beach
- AGAT: Togcha Beach-near Namo River, Togcha Beach-Agat Park Beach, Togcha Beach-near S. Christian Academy, Bangi Beach, Nimitz Beach
- UMATAC: Umatac Bay, Toguan Bay
- MERIZO: Merizo Pier at Mamaon Channel
- INARAJAN: Inarajan Bay
- TALOFOFO: Togcha Bay
* TANGUISSON: No harvesting or consumption of seaweed, fish or marine organisms is allowed at Tanguisson Beach.
(Place names as spelled in United States Geological Survey [USGS] maps.)
BEACHES CLOSED: 1
No weekly testing is done on West Hagåtña Bay, but it remains closed, as it has been for years, because GWA, on occasion, uses an old, fractured, outfall pipe to dispose of sewage from the Hagåtña Sewage Treatment Plant.
When that happens, some of the sewage can leak inside the reef and pollute the waters and beaches in the area including the Hagåtña Boat Basin & Channel and the West Hagåtña Beach Park.
The area closed includes Hagåtña Boat Basin & Channel and the West Hagåtña Beach Park.
About the Guam EPA Weekly Beach Report:The Recreational Waters Pollution Report is compiled by Guam EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Analytical Services Division which takes water samples at 42 recreational beaches every Thursday [adjustments are made during official holidays].
The samples are analyzed for concentrations of the enterococcus bacteria indicator.
Advisories are based on an instantaneous standard of not greater than 104 enterococci/100 ml and a geometric mean standard of not greater than 35 enterococci/100 ml.
Advisories are based on an instantaneous standard of not greater than 104 enterococci/100 ml and a geometric mean standard of not greater than 35 enterococci/100 ml.
Since 1974, Guam EPA has performed this community service weekly. The Environmental Monitoring and Analytical Services Division takes water samples of 42 recreational beaches every Thursday [ adjustments are made during official holidays] and analyzes the samples for concentrations of the enterococcus bacteria indicator.
Questions about the Recreational Waters Pollution Report should be directed to the Guam EPA Monitoring Section at 475-1656/8.
For more information, please also visit http://www.epa.gov/ostwater/beaches/local/sum2.html
