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TOO MUCH BACTERIA: 15 NJ Beaches Closed, Some Under Advisories

PHILADELPHIA (CBS)—More than a dozen New Jersey beaches are on notice from the state Department of Environmental Protection after the tested water quality samples exceeded the recreational standard.

Each week, recreational beach water quality monitoring is performed at approximately 180 ocean and 35 bay monitoring stations along the coast of New Jersey.

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The DEP says they are tested for a type of bacteria called Enterococci, that's found in animal and human waste. The New Jersey State Sanitary Code requires that the concentration of bacteria not exceed 104 colonies of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of sample.

On Wednesday, 15 beaches were closed and four are under notice from the state.

Red flags and "beach closed" signs were seen on the lifeguard stands in Ventnor as beach goers were told the ocean is off limits.

"They just told us to get out of the water because it's dirty. I'm like, 'that's nice,'" said Cheryl Mickley, who's visiting from Sicklerville.

Health officials issued high-bacteria advisories and ordered closures at several Ventnor beaches prompting the city to shut down every beach as a precaution.

They say the bacteria counts are simply a result of recent weather.

"This is the first time this summer that there have been advisories and we're seeing advisories being issued throughout the coast. It is thought to be as a result of the heavy rain that was seen on Sunday evening," said Patricia Diamond, the Atlantic County health officer.

Statewide there were more than 30 advisories and 3 closures on Tuesday. New testing on Wednesday lowered the number of advisories to four but increased the closures to 15 beaches, including Atlantic City, Ventnor and Somers Point.

The DEP says a beach receives an advisory if "any initial sample that exceeds the state standard requires that the local health agency issue a swimming advisory at the bathing beach where the sample was collected."

Additional sampling is conducted until water quality results are again within the standard.

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Beaches are closed "if two consecutive samples collected at a bathing beach exceed the state standard." The closure applies to water activities like swimming, wading, and playing in the water. Other beach related activities like sunbathing and walking on the beach are unaffected.

When advisories occur in Atlantic County, officials evaluate the water on a daily basis, looking for a specific type of bacteria that indicates the presence of more dangerous varieties.

"The concern is that if you have these bacteria, since they are present in the digestive system of warm blooded animals, the presence of these may indicate the presence of certain pathogens," said Michael Gille, laboratory director with the Atlantic County Utilities Authority.

Official say they are basically they're looking to see how high a concentration of bacteria is in the water caused by animal feces washing into the ocean after major rain storms.

The following beaches are closed at this time:

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Atlantic City

  • Beach (Ocean): Bartram: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean): Missouri: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean): Georgia: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean): North Carolina: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean):Pennsylvania: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean):Annapolis Ave: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean):Montgomery Ave: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.

Somers Point City

  • Beach (Bay): New Jersey Ave: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Ventnor City: Beach (Ocean): Austin Ave: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean): Dorset: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean): New Haven: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean):Washington: Reason: As a safety precaution, this beach was closed due to the closures of surrounding Ventnor beaches.

CAPE MAY COUNTY

No Current Closures

MONMOUTH COUNTY

No Current Closures

OCEAN COUNTY

  • Beachwood Borough: Beach (River):Beachwood Beach West: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Pine Beach Borough: Beach (River): West Beach Avon Rd: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.

Stafford Township

  • Beach (Bay): Jennifer: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.

The following beaches are under an advisory:

ATLANTIC COUNTY

No Current Advisories

CAPE MAY COUNTY

No Current Advisories

MONMOUTH COUNTY

Sea Girt Borough

  • Beach (Ocean): The Terrace: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
  • Beach (Ocean): Beacon Blvd: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.

OCEAN COUNTY

  • Barnegat Light Borough: Beach (Bay): 25th St Bay Front: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.

Long Beach Township

  • Beach (Bay): New Jersey: Reason: Sample exceeded water quality standard.
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