Manasquan-Belmar Area Beaches Close Due To Fecal Bacteria

Some of New Jersey's beaches have closed because of "unsafe" levels of bacteria found in animal and human waste, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Several in the Manasquan-Belmar area either closed or they were placed under an advisory.

They were all tested after the heavy rain and thunderstorms over the weekend. Nearly all of the beaches are at the ocean.

The problems were initially discovered Monday and Tuesday, with at least 17 beaches exceeding the bacteria concentration limit of 104 colony-forming units (cfu) of Enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, according to the DEP.

Advisories were issued at 17 beaches which were open to the public (see list below). After testing on Wednesday, a total of 12 were closed.

Some of the harmful effects of Enterococci, a bacteria found in human and animal waste, are infections that cause fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The same problem happened two months ago, whe 47 New Jersey beaches were found to have "unsafe levels," according to Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesman. Those beaches also tested above allowable levels for bacteria found in human and animal feces.

Back then, Hajna said the problem is caused largely by the rain that caused a lot of stormwater runoff carrying animal waste into the swimming areas. "Birds congregate a lot," he said. "When they defecate, it carries into the water."

Here are the beaches that closed on Wednesday, and will likely remain closed on Thursday:

Atlantic

• Brigantine: 26th St

Ocean

• Pine Beach: East Beach Station Ave
• Pine Beach: West Beach Avon Rd
• Seaside Heights: Borough Lincoln Ave
• Seaside Heights: Sheridan

Monmouth

• Belmar: L Street Beach
• Loch Arbour: Village Beach Club
• Spring Lake: Essex Ave

These beaches were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and could remain closed on Thursday:

Monmouth

• Sea Girt: The Terrace
• Sea Girt: Beacon Blvd
• Spring Lake: York Ave
• Spring Lake: Brown Ave S

Here were the beaches initially under advisory that tested high for bacteria:

Atlantic

• Brigantine: 26th St
• Somers Point: New Jersey Ave

Cape May

• Upper Township: Beesley's Point Beach

Monmouth

• Belmar: L Street Beach
• Bradley Beach: Ocean Park
• Loch Arbour: Village Beach Club
• Sea Girt: Baltimore
• Spring Lake: Essex Ave

Ocean

• Long Beach Township: New Jersey
• Ocean Gate: Anglesea
• Ocean Gate: Wildwood
• Pine Beach: West Beach Avon Rd
• Pine Beach: East Beach Station Ave
• Point Pleasant Beach: Central
• Point Pleasant Beach: Maryland
• Seaside Heights: Sheridan
• Seaside Heights: Lincoln Ave
• Seaside Heights: Hancock

Photo Credit: Alexander Nguyen of Patch