PHILIPSBURG--The Public Health Department (PHD) and Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are “strongly advising” persons against swimming in Great Bay today, Tuesday.
The advisory was issued because water was being pumped into Great Bay from Great Salt Pond on Monday and pumping might continue into this morning.
This water can be contaminated with, amongst other things, rainwater runoff into the ponds which is then pumped into Great Bay to lower the water levels and prevent flooding in the Philipsburg area.
The PHD/CPS advisory is a precautionary measure to prevent swimmers from coming into contact with contaminated water that could pose a health risk if ingested or by skin contact and make the person vulnerable to recreational water illnesses, it was stated in a press release on Monday.
The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI began lowering the water levels in the ponds on Monday due to the inclement weather the country has been experiencing over the past few days. This is a precautionary measure so that the ponds will be able to handle the runoff and prevent flooding in the event of further persistent rainfall.
