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BEACH ADVISORY

Release Date: March 5, 2008

Contact: ASEPA Water Program at (684) 633-2304

The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) wishes to inform the public that on March 4, 2008 the following recreational beaches were found to be contaminated with enterococci bacteria levels that exceed ASEPA Water Quality Standards:

West
Asili Beach (across LMS Church, Asili)
Leone Pala (near bridge), Leone
Leala (Sliding Rock), Taputimu
Fogagogo Beach (adjacent resort), Fogagogo
Fogagogo Swimming Hole (at resort), Fogagogo

Central
Pala Lagoon (adjacent playground), Nu'uuli
Pala Lagoon - Spring (near tennis courts), Nu'uuli
Coconut Point, Nu'uuli
Avau Beach, Nu'uuli
Fatumafuti Beach, Fatumafuti
Faga'alu Beach (adjacent field), Faga'alu
Gataivai Beach (across Laundromat), Gataivai
Yacht Club Beach, Utulei
Utulei Beach (across high school), Utulei
Fagatogo - Stream Mouth (flowing past Market), Fagatogo

East
Fagasa-Fagalea Beach (near stream), Fagasa
Fagasa Fagatele Beach (across boat house), Fagasa
Afono - Stream Mouth (adjacent cricket field), Afono
Vatia - Stream Mouth (2nd bridge), Vatia
Aua - Pouesi (Across Pouesi Mart), Aua
Aua Stream Mouth (near bridge), Aua
Aua-Video (Across A&M Video Store), Aua
Lauli'i Tuai - Stream Mouth, Lauli'i
Alega - Stream Mouth, Alega
Auto Beach (across store), Auto
Faga'itua -Stream Mouth (Across Police Station), Faga'itua
Masefau - Stream Mouth, Masefau
Alofau - Stream Mouth (near 1st bridge, Asasama), Alofau
Aoa - Stream Mouth, Aoa
Onenoa Beach, Onenoa

The public should not swim, wade, or fish within 400 feet of these polluted beaches. This advisory is in effect until further sampling and laboratory analyses indicate that enterococci concentrations are within water quality standards.

Water that contains excessive concentrations of enterococci bacteria is correlated with swimming-associated gastrointestinal diseases. Enterococci bacteria reside in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water indicates contamination by human and/or animal wastes. Swimmers in polluted water are at risk for many waterborne diseases, some of which may cause serious illness.

Note: ASEPA laboratory monitors the water quality of 43 recreational beaches on Tutuila, the wharf in Aunu’u, and five beaches on Manu’a. Tutuila advisories are issued weekly. Aunu’u and Manu’a advisories are issued monthly. Advisories are issued when bacteria concentrations exceed levels determined safe for human exposure. Questions should be directed to the ASEPA Water Program at 633-2304.

Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE

Lapata’iga ma Fautuaga mo Matafaga.

Aso o le Fa’asalalauga: Mati 5, 2008

Ia Fa’afeso’ota’i: Ofisa o le Si’osi’omaga (ASEPA) i le Vaega o le Vai i le telefoni 633-2304.

Ma le fa’aaaloalo lava, e fa’asilasila atu ai e fa’apea: I se su’esu’ega sa faia e le ofisa e pei ona ta’ua i luga i le aso Mati 4, 2008, ua fa’amaoniaina ai le maua’ina ose siama (enterococci bacteria) i le gataifale o le alalafaga o lo’o ta’ua i lalo.

Ua lapata’ia ma fautuaina ai le mamalu o le atunu’u aemaise i latou o lo’o masani ona fa’aaogaina lea ogasami mo ta’elega ma fagotaga, ina ia taofia loa le toe fa’aaogaina o lea vaega o le sami i le taimi nei se’ia toe logoina atu.

O le siama lenei e pei ona ta’ua i luga e mafua mai ai fa’ama’i o le manava e pei o le manava-tata. E masani lava ona nofo le siama lenei i totonu o le manava o tagata soifua fa’apea fo’i ma mea-ola. Ma o le iai po’o le mauaina o le siama lenei i totonu o lea ogasami e mafua mai i otaota o mea-ola po’o otaota fo’i o tagata soifua.
Ma o i latou e fiafia e fa’aaoga lenei ogasami mo ta’elega ma fagotaga e ono a’afia latou i ni fa’ama’i e ono fa’afaigata ona togafitia.

O lo’o i lalo o le va’ava’aiga a le vaega su’esu’e (Laboratory) a lenei ofisa le 43 o matafaga mo tafaoga i le motu o Tutuila, 5 i le motu o Manu’a ma uafu i Aunu’u. O fa’asalalauga mo lapata’iga mo le motu i Tutuila o lo’o auina atu i vaiaso taitasi. A’o Manu’a ma Aunu’u o lo’o maua a latou fa’asalalauga mo lapata’iga i masina taitasi.

A iai ni fesili mo le fia malamalama atili i le polokalame lenei a le ofisa o le Si’osi’omaga (EPA), fa’amolemole fa’afeso’ota’i mai le telefoni 633-2304.