1 Barnegat Light Beach Closes Due To High Fecal Bacteria: DEP

BARNEGAT LIGHT, NJ — A Barnegat Light beach temporarily closed after exceeding the state's limit in fecal bacteria count for two straight days. New Jersey's Department of Environmental protection closed the beach after re-testing the water Tuesday.

Samples of Enterococci bacteria — found in human and animal excrement — cannot exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters, according to state regulations. The DEP found 370 colonies per 100 milliliters in Monday's tests — more than triple the state limit.

The water showed 110 colonies and 130 colonies in Tuesday retests. The DEP posts results the day after testing on njbeaches.org.

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 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.

No other Long Beach Island beaches are under advisories. The DEP also temporarily closed Brick Township's Windward Beach on Tuesday.

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