Several swimming areas in New Jersey are currently under close watch after water quality tests revealed high levels of fecal bacteria. As of June 21, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has put out swimming advisories for five coastal spots in Ocean and Cape May counties.
This advisory was issued mainly due to elevated levels of enterococci, a type of bacteria often used to assess water quality in recreational swimming areas. The locations affected include Cedar Point Beach and Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County, along with several sites in Lower Township, Cape May County.
The DEP regularly tests the water quality at public beaches, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Health and local health authorities. It’s comforting to know there’s ongoing monitoring, but the recent findings are concerning.
According to state standards, there shouldn’t be more than 104 enterococcus colonies per 100 milliliters of sampled water. If tests exceed this limit, a swimming advisory is issued, and further samples are taken until the water quality improves. It’s important to note that a swimming advisory doesn’t necessarily mean the beach is closed.
Interestingly, a beach will only be closed to swimmers if two consecutive tests indicate water quality fails to meet standards. It will remain closed until subsequent testing shows that bacteria levels have returned to acceptable limits. As of June 21, the DEP’s monitoring dashboard reported no active beach closures in coastal or freshwater regions.
The advisories come after extensive testing revealed elevated fecal bacteria levels as of June 16 in three beaches in Monmouth County and six rivers and bays along the Jersey Shore. Thankfully, many of these locations did return to safe levels following re-testing.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that enterococci can come from various sources, including wastewater, septic leaks, stormwater runoff, and waste from wildlife. While this bacteria isn’t typically harmful to humans directly, it can indicate the presence of other pathogens that might be dangerous.
These pathogens can be viruses, bacteria, or protozoa that may lead to illnesses affecting skin, eyes, or the respiratory system. Moreover, the EPA cautions that consuming seafood from contaminated waters can lead to health issues.
Authorities will keep monitoring these locations and will continue to collect samples until the bacteria levels drop to acceptable standards. It’s a reminder to stay alert and to be mindful of swimming conditions, especially during the summer months.
