New Jersey Beaches Under Advisory Due to Bacterial Contamination

Several swimming areas in New Jersey face scrutiny following water testing that revealed high levels of fecal bacteria. As of June 21, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued swimming advisories for five coastal locations in Ocean and Cape May counties.

Advisories Issued for Water Quality Concerns

The advisories resulted from elevated levels of enterococci, a type of bacteria used to assess water quality at swimming sites. The affected locations include Cedar Point Beach and Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County, as well as Wildwood, Baywyn, Bay, and Ferry areas in Lower Township of Cape May County.

Testing is performed regularly by the DEP in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Health and local health officials to ensure public safety at recreational bathing beaches.

State Standards and Responses

According to state guidelines, water samples should not exceed 104 enterococci colonies per 100 milliliters. If these standards are not met, a swimming advisory is issued, and further sampling occurs until water quality is deemed safe. An advisory, however, doesn’t imply an immediate closure of the swimming area.

Beaches close to swimmers only if two consecutive samples fail to meet safety standards. As of June 21, no coastal or freshwater sites are officially closed, though some bayside areas remain under advisory due to ongoing bacterial concerns.

Sources and Health Risks

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies several potential sources for enterococci contamination. These include wastewater treatment plant discharges, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, sewage from recreational boats, and waste from domestic animals and wildlife.

According to the EPA, while enterococci themselves typically aren’t harmful to humans, their presence can signal other disease-causing organisms in the water.

These pathogens may include viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that can cause various illnesses, impacting the skin, eyes, ears, and respiratory system. Consuming seafood from contaminated waters also poses significant health risks.

Efforts to monitor affected sites and conduct additional testing will continue until bacteria levels meet acceptable standards.

Jessica Mekles and Kelly McGreal contributed additional reporting.