A new report shows beach closings in Delaware are on the rise while New Jersey’s rate is going down. Still, KYW’s John Ostapkovich reports, Delaware’s water quality is rated better.

The headline, based on water quality data from the EPA, could be that Delaware beach closings rose 800% last year.

True, but beach closings in 2008 were so low that, even the increase in beach closings, Delaware is still listed as second, nationally, in beachwater quality.

Adam Garber of PennEnvironment, which released the study, says Delaware’s problem in 2009 was storm water run-off when heavy rain met paved surfaces:

“We need to do more to protect our rivers and outr streams and beaches from storm water overflow and sewage.”

New Jersey, meanwhile, saw a modest decline in beach closures from 2008 to 2009 but its water quality is ranked 14th nationally.

As to this year, Garber says it’s too soon to get big picture data but you can check the latest on New Jersey beaches here and Delaware beaches here.