8 NJ Beaches Struggle To Say Open Because Of Bacteria, Discharge

JERSEY SHORE – Eight beaches along the Jersey Shore have struggled to stay open this summer - and some of them can blame fecal bacteria.

One of the beaches – the 5th Avenue bayfront beach in Seaside Park – was placed under an advisory on Tuesday after the state Department of Environmental Protection discovered an unsafe level of fecal bacteria.

The beach could be closed this week because of "unsafe" levels of bacteria found in animal and human waste, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The problems were initially discovered Tuesday with the beach exceeding the bacteria concentration limit of 104 colony-forming units (cfu) of Enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, according to the DEP.

Some of the harmful effects of Enterococci, the bacteria found in animal and human waste, include infections that cause fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Here are other beaches recently placed under an advisory or closed because of Enterococci or storm discharge:

• 25th St Bay Front, Barnegat Light, Aug. 1-2 advisory: Enterococci
• 25th St Bay Front, Barnegat Light, Aug. 6-7 advisory: Enterococci
• 25th St Bay Front, Barnegat Light, Aug. 13-14 advisory: Enterococci
• The Terrace, Sea Girt, Aug. 14-15 closure: Storm discharge
• Beacon Blvd, Sea Girt, Aug. 14-15 closure: Storm discharge
• York Ave, Spring Lake, Aug. 14-15 closure: Storm discharge
• Brown Ave, S Spring Lake, Aug. 14-15 closure: Storm discharge
• 5th Ave Bay Front, Seaside Park, Aug. 20-21 advisory: Enterococci

The same problem happened last year, when 47 New Jersey beaches were found to have "unsafe levels," according to Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesman. Those beaches also tested above allowable levels for bacteria found in human and animal feces.

Read more: 47 NJ Beaches At Risk Of Closing Due To Fecal Bacteria, DEP Says

Back then, Hajna said the problem is caused largely by the rain that caused a lot of stormwater runoff carrying animal waste into the swimming areas. "Birds congregate a lot," he said. "When they defecate, it carries into the water."