T>
z
%
^£Dsrx
Q
EPA's BEACH Report:
Virgin Islands 2010 Swimming Season
May 2011
Introduction
The BEACH Act of 2000 requires that coastal
and Great Lakes states and territories report
to EPA on beach monitoring and notification
data for their coastal recreation waters. The
BEACH Act defines coastal recreation waters as
the Great Lakes and coastal waters (including
coastal estuaries) that states, territories,
and authorized tribes officially recognize or
designate for swimming, bathing, surfing, or
similar activities in the water.
This fact sheet summarizes beach monitoring
and notification data submitted to EPA by the
territory of the Virgin Islands for the 2010
swimming season.
Figure 1. U.S. Virgin Islands
J

St. Thomas
St. John
St. Croix
Table 1. Breakdown of monitored and
unmonitored coastal beaches for
2010.
Island
Total
Beaches
Monitored
Not
Monitored
SI CROIX
20
20
0
SI JOHN
8
8
0
SI THOMAS
15
15
0
TOTALS
43
43
0

-------
2010 Summary Results
How many beaches had notification actions?
When water quality standards are exceeded at a
particular beach, Virgin Islands requires beach
managers to post an advisory or closure. An advisory
warns people that there is an increased health risk
associated with entering the water and a closure
warns people to completely avoid contact with the
water. A total of 15 out of 43 monitored beaches had at
least one advisory issued during the 2010 swimming
season. Figure 2 presents a full breakdown of
notification actions.
What percentage of days were beaches under a
notification action?
In 2010, about 0.4 percent of Virgin Islands' total
beach days were under an advisory (Figure 3).
How do 2010 results compare to previous years?
Table 2 compares 2010 notification action data with
monitored beach data from previous years.
What pollution sources possibly affect investigated
monitored beaches?
Virgin Islands' officials indicate that no sources were
found at most investigated beaches.
For More Information
For general information about beaches:
www.epa.gov/beaches/
Figure 2: Beach notification actions by duration.

251




20-


20





c
o
15-



o
<




o
10-



6
z
5-
0
0
1

0

I



1
2
3-7
Duration of Actions (days)
Figure 3:
Table 2. Beach notification actions, 2008-2010.

2008
2009
2010
Number of monitored
beaches
43
43
43
Number of beaches
affected by notification
actions
8
15
15
Percentage of beaches
affected by notification
actions
19%
35%
35%
Percentage of beach
days affected by
notification actions
0.4%
0.5%
0.4%
Figure 4: Percent of investigated monitored beaches
affected by possible pollution sources (36 beaches).
Percent of beaches
0 1 0 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1 00
Investigated I no sources found
Non-storm related runoff
Storm-related runoff
Agricultural runoff
Boat discharge
Cone, animal feeding operation
Combined sewer overflow
Sanitary sewer overflow
Publicly-owned treatment works
Sewer line leak or break
Septic system leakage
Wildlife
Other (identified) source(s)
Unidentified source(s)
12
No
h
te: A si
ave mt
single beat
•ultiple sc i
82
•ch may
-------