Beachwood Beach Tests High In Fecal Bacteria: DEP

BEACHWOOD, NJ — Beachwood Beach exceeded the state's limit in fecal bacteria count, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The beach is not yet open for swimming this season, the DEP said.

Samples of Enterococci bacteria — found in human and animal excrement — cannot exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters, according to state regulations. Beachwood's beach had 110 colonies per 100 milliliters.

The bacteria can cause sickness but is usually used to detect the presence of other disease-causing bacteria, viruses or protozoa, according to the DEP.

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.

Two Long Beach Township beaches — on Bayview Avenue and Stockton Avenue — also tested high in fecal bacteria. Stockton Avenue's beach tested at 450 colonies per 100 milliliters. Bayview Avenue's beach held 160 colonies in that space. Both beaches remained open but are under advisories.

All three beaches with high bacteria counts were re-sampled Tuesday, but results won't be available until Wednesday. If the fecal bacteria counts exceed the state threshold a second time, officials must close the beach to swimming, wading and playing in the water until water samples drop back below the limit.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Berkeley Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.