Guam News - Guam News

The Recreational Waters Pollution Report is compiled by Guam EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Analytical Services Division.

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.

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.

Beach Advisories: 16

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 samples taken by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, January 06, identified that the following recreational waters were polluted above the accepted bacteriological standards:

DEDEDO
Tanguisson

TAMUNING
Dungca’s Beach, East Hagåtña Bay – Alupang towers Beach, East Hagåtña Bay - Trinchera Beach

HAGATNA
Padre Palomo Park Beach

ASAN
Asan Bay Beach
 

PITI
Piti Bay, Santos Memorial Park
 

AGAT
Togcha Beach - near Namo River, Bangi Beach, Nimitz Beach

UMATAC
Toguan Bay

MERIZO
Merizo Pier at Mamaon Channel

INARAJAN
Inarajan Bay

TALOFOFO
Talofofo Bay

YONA
Tagachang Beach

(Place names as spelled in United States Geological Survey [USGS] maps.)
No harvesting or consumption of seaweed, fish or marine organisms is allowed at Tanguisson Beach.

Beach Closures: 1

No weekly testing is done on West Hagåtña Bay, but it remains closed as it has been for years because GWA, on occassion, 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 beachs in the area including the Hagåtña Boat Basin & Channel and the West Hagåtña Beach Park.

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.guamepa.net, http://www.epa.gov/ostwater/beaches/local/sum2.html