Red flags at 23 Saipan locations

07/30/2025 - The CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s (BECQ) Water Quality Surveillance and Non-Point Source (WQS/NPS) Program announced red flags for 23 locations across Saipan West Beaches. It comes after the CNMI experienced tropical storm conditions over the weekend.

According to the BECQ, a red flag is “is triggered when the samples collected from around the beaches at the following locations contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci) that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards. These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water.”

In a press release on July 29, around 5 p.m., they advised the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of the listed locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.

The following locations have been given a red flag after water sampling:

• Paupau

• Plumeria Hotel

• Aqua Resort

• Central Repair Shop

• Peace Park

• Smiling Cove Marina

• AMP Drainage

• Micro

• Hyatt

• GrandVrio Hotel

• Garapan Fishing Dock

• Drainage #3

• Garapan Beach

• Chalan Laulau

• San Jose

• Civic Center

• Saipan World Resort

• Kanoa Resort

* Community School

* Sugar Dock

* Chalan Piao

* Hopwood School

* San Antonio Beach

Updates on the status of the beaches will be available at https://www.deq.gov.mp/beach-advisories.html

Report by Thomas Manglona II

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