Water testing in New Jersey has revealed high levels of fecal bacteria at several popular swimming areas. This situation has prompted the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to issue swimming advisories for five coastal locations in Ocean and Cape May counties as of June 21.
Water Quality Concerns
The advisories stem from elevated levels of enterococci. This type of bacteria is commonly used to evaluate water quality at recreational sites. The affected regions include Cedar Point Beach and Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County. In Lower Township, Cape May County, the advisories cover Wildwood and Bay, Baywyn and Bay, and Ferry and Bay.
Water testing at New Jersey’s public beaches is conducted systematically by the DEP, collaborating with the New Jersey Department of Health and local health officials. According to state standards, water samples must not exceed 104 enterococci colonies per 100 milliliters. If the levels surpass this threshold, a swimming advisory is issued, prompting additional sampling until conditions improve.
It’s important to note that an advisory alone won’t lead to beach closures. A beach is only closed when two consecutive tests show unacceptable bacteria levels. Closures remain in place until the water meets safety standards again. As of June 21, the DEP’s monitoring dashboard indicated no active closures at coastal or freshwater locations.
Potential Sources and Risks
Recent testing showed high fecal bacteria levels at various locations, including Monmouth County ocean beaches and several Jersey Shore river and bay sites. Some sites have returned to acceptable levels following further tests.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies potential sources of enterococci. These include discharges from wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, recreational boat sewage, and waste from animals.
The presence of enterococci might indicate that other harmful pathogens could be in the water. These pathogens can include viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that risk causing skin, eye, ear, and respiratory illnesses.
Moreover, consuming seafood from contaminated waters can pose additional health threats. The EPA advises caution when dealing with such scenarios.
Officials plan to keep analyzing water samples from the affected locations. This monitoring will ensure bacteria levels return to safe limits.