ST. CROIX — The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, through a press release issued Friday, said it anticipates that negative environmental impacts will be caused by storm-water runoff, due to heavy rainfall in the territory this week.
Because of this, the government agency is advising the public to use caution when using the coastal waters throughout the USVI until further notification. D.P.N.R. also advised parents to instruct their children to keep away from storm-water impacted beaches as well as areas with manholes and storm-water flooding.
There may be an elevated health risk to anyone swimming in storm-water impacted areas as a result of increased concentrations of bacteria, D.P.N.R. said.
The agency further added that all persons should be aware that storm-water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health and therefore all persons should avoid such areas (i.e. guts, puddles, and drainage basins).
D.P.N.R, says it will continue to monitor the impacted areas and waters.
For additional information regarding water quality call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 in St. Croix or 774-3320 in St. Thomas.
Tags: dpnr, storm water runoff
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