Release Date: April 25, 2008

Contact: Environmental Monitoring and Analytical Services Division at 475-1656/8

Number of beach closures: 1

ATTENTION: West Hagåtña Bay waters from Paseo to the public parking adjacent to Diamond Auto are closed until further notice by order of the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) due to a leak in the Agana Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall.

Number of beach advisories: 11

The results of samples taken by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, April 24, 2008, show that the following recreational waters were polluted above the accepted bacteriological standards:

Harmon:	Tanguisson Beach
Tumon:	Naton Beach
Tamuning:	East Hagatna Bay - Alupang Towers Beach
Asan:	Asan Bay
Piti:	Santos Memorial Park
Agat:	Southern Christian Academy Beach, Nimitz Beach
Umatac:	Umatac Bay
Umatac / Merizo:	Toguan Bay
Merizo:	Merizo Pier
Yona:	Tagachang Beach
(Place names as spelled in United States Geological Survey [USGS] maps.)

The public is advised not to swim or wade within 400 yards of polluted waters. This advisory is in effect until subsequent samples are analyzed and show bacteriological concentrations to be within acceptable standards. No harvesting or consumption of seaweed, fish or marine organisms is allowed at Tanguisson Beach.

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 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 (formerly called Monitoring Laboratory Services Division) takes water samples of 39 recreational beaches every Wednesday* 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.

Questions about the Recreational Waters Pollution Report should be directed to the Guam EPA laboratory. The laboratory can be reached at 475-1656/8, or send e-mail to Biologist Veronica Cummings Gutierrez at Veronica.CummingsGutierrez@guamepa.net.

For more information, please also visit USEPA Beach Program, the U.S. EPA Office of Water Beach page, or the Natural Resources Defense Council's Testing the Waters 2002 on the Web. 

* Adjustments are made during official holidays.