High Fecal Bacteria Puts Swimming Advisories On Jersey Shore Beaches

JERSEY SHORE — Two ocean beaches were placed under a swimming advisory Tuesday after high levels of fecal bacteria were found in water samples, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Three bay beaches and a river beach were also placed under the advisory.

These beaches were tested Monday and then retested on Tuesday. Results will be released Wednesday afternoon:

• Roosevelt Avenue in Deal (ocean)
• Elberon Beach Club in Long Branch (ocean)
• 25th Street Bay Front in Barnegat Light (bay)
• Brooklyn in Lavallette (bay)
• East Beach Station Avenue in Pine Beach (river)
• Hancock in Seaside Heights (bay)

All of these beaches exceeded the standards of 104 colonies of enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of sample. If two consecutive samples exceed the standards, the beaches will be closed until the bacteria level goes back down, according to the DEP.

Enterococci, a bacteria found in animal and human waste, can be an indicator of poor bathing water quality. Swimming in water with high levels of enterococci can be harmful to your health, according to the DEP.

Sources of enterococci in water include storm water runoff, sewage discharged or dumped from recreational boats, and domestic animal and wildlife waste.

Swimming in polluted water can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, runny nose, earaches skin rashes and flu-like symptoms.