UMVA has learned that several swimming areas in New Jersey are under scrutiny after water testing revealed alarmingly high levels of fecal bacteria at recreational water sites across the state.
As of June 21, a total of five coastal locations in Ocean and Cape May counties have been issued swimming advisories by the state, due to elevated levels of enterococci, a bacteria commonly used to measure water quality at recreational swimming sites.
The affected areas include Cedar Point Beach and Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County, as well as Wildwood and Bay, Baywyn and Bay, and Ferry and Bay in Lower Township, Cape May County. These advisories were triggered when water tests exceeded the state standard of 104 enterococci colonies per 100 milliliters of sampled water.
Water testing at New Jersey's public recreational bathing beaches is carried out regularly by state officials, who work closely with local health officials to monitor water quality. If a test result exceeds the threshold, a swimming advisory is issued and additional samples are collected until water quality returns to acceptable levels.
However, it's crucial to note that a swimming advisory does not automatically result in the closure of a swimming area. Beaches are only shut down to swimmers after two consecutive samples fail to meet water quality standards, and they remain closed until testing shows bacteria levels have returned to acceptable levels.
As of June 21, the state's monitoring dashboard showed no active coastal or freshwater closures, offering some relief to beachgoers. The advisories follow a broader round of testing conducted the previous week, which detected elevated fecal bacteria levels at several ocean beaches and river locations along the Jersey Shore.
Many of those sites returned to acceptable levels following additional testing, but officials will continue monitoring the affected locations and collecting additional samples until bacteria levels return to acceptable standards.
The sources of enterococci can vary, but may include wastewater treatment plant discharges, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, and sewage released from recreational boats. While enterococci are typically not considered directly harmful to humans, they can serve as a warning sign that other disease-causing organisms may be present in the water.
These pathogens can cause a range of illnesses affecting the skin, eyes, ears, and respiratory system. Moreover, consuming seafood harvested from contaminated waters may also result in illness, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and swift action to protect public health.
