Same 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 — one week after closing for the same reason.

Samples of Enterococci bacteria — found in human and animal excrement — cannot exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters, according to state regulations. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection found 280 colonies per 100 milliliters Monday, prompting a Tuesday retest.

The water showed 180 and 70 colonies in Tuesday's 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.

One week earlier, the DEP found 370 colonies per 100 milliliters in July 22's tests on the same beach. The DEP found 110 and 130 colonies per 100 milliliters in the next day's retests, prompting a closure. The beach reopened after testing at safe levels July 24. Read more: 1 Barnegat Light Beach Closes Due To High Fecal Bacteria: DEP

Very often, 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 or New Jersey beaches are under advisories, according to the DEP.

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