2 LBI Beaches Test For High Fecal Bacteria Counts

BEACH HAVEN, NJ — Two Long Beach Island beaches were placed under an advisory because of high fecal-bacteria counts. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced advisories Wednesday for 75th Bay Front Beach in Harvey Cedars and Leeward St. beach in Beach Haven.

Samples of Enterococci bacteria — found in human and animal excrement — cannot exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters, according to state regulations. The DEP found 140 colonies per 100 milliliters Monday at the Harvey Cedars beach. The agency discovered 120 colonies in Monday's sample at the Beach Haven beach.

No other LBI beach has exceeded state levels in their most recent tests, so none of them are under advisory.

The DEP places beaches under an advisory after if they exceed the state limit once. Then they collect additional samples. Beaches are closed if two straight samples at a bathing beach exceed the water-quality standard. The DEP usually releases results the day after each test.

The higher presence becomes more likely after rainfall, which flushes pollutants including bacteria from bird, dog or other animal waste into rivers and streams. The bacteria soon ends up in bays and along ocean beaches.

LBI waters recently faced such severe rip currents Sunday that several towns prohibited ocean swimming for the day. Beach Haven prohibited swimming, while Surf City prohibited ocean swimming. Read more: Beach Haven Swimming Prohibited Sunday Due To Strong Rip Currents

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