Beachwood Has New Jersey's Dirtiest Beach, Report Says

BEACHWOOD, NJ — Beachwood Beach West's waters present the greatest risk of exposure to sewage or other fecal contamination among New Jersey beaches, according to a new report.

Beachwood Beach West and the 25th Street Bay Front Beach in Barnegat Light tied for the most days — nine each for the 2019 season — where water testing levels of potentially dangerous bacteria exceeded safe water standards, according to the "Safe for Swimming" report by Environmental New Jersey.

The environmental group analyzed data of fecal bacteria from beaches in 29 states and Puerto Rico. The study indicated that 386 — or about one-eighth — of the beaches surveyed were potentially unsafe on at least 25 percent of the days when sampling occurred.

In New Jersey, 73 of 222 beaches tested were potentially unsafe for at least one day last year.

Four Ocean County beaches topped the list for the most "potentially unsafe" swimming days last year in New Jersey:

1. Beachwood Beach West: nine potentially unsafe days in 18 days of testing, 50 percent
2. Barnegat Light Bay Beach: nine potentially unsafe days in 21 days of testing, 43 percent
3. Windward Beach: eight potentially unsafe days in 21 days of testing, 38 percent
4. Harvey Cedars Borough at 75th Bay Front: four potentially unsafe days in 16 days of testing, 25 percent

Here are the average percentages of potentially unsafe sampling days in 2019 for beaches in New Jersey counties:

• Cape May County: 5 percent, 69 beaches tested
• Ocean County: 5 percent, 60 beaches tested
• Monmouth County: 5 percent, 45 beaches tested
• Atlantic County: 1 percent, 48 beaches tested

Read the full report here.

Beachwood Mayor Ron Roma said the borough was committed to finding and fixing the problems at the beach, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Local health departments monitor beach water quality from mid-May to September. Officials issue a swimming advisory when a sample indicates the concentration of the indicator bacteria, enterococci, exceeds state standards of 104 colonies per 100 milliliters.

Beaches are closed when their water exceeds the threshold on two straight days and remain in place until the water's bacteria tests below the standard.

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