The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) warned beachgoers to stay out of the water at two popular beaches, Playa Cabullón in Ponce and Playita del Condado in San Juan, due to high levels of bacteria detected in recent water samples. The Program of Monitoring confirmed that the beaches had high concentrations of Enterococos, a bacteria found in the human and animal gastrointestinal tract, exceeding the 'Beach Action Value' (BAV) of 70 colonies/100 mL.
The DRNA uses the BAV, a safety limit recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to determine if the water is safe for swimmers. The agency advised the public to avoid contact with bodies of water after continuous rainfall events due to the proliferation of bacteria.
The Program of Monitoring of Beaches conducts periodic evaluations of water quality at various coastlines to inform citizens of potential risks before entering the sea.