Swimming Beach in Middletown Closed Due to Fecal Bacteria

Middletown, NJ - It's hardly just Sandy Hook: Ideal Beach in Middletown was closed for the second straight day Thursday because the water sampling there exceeded quality standards, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Ideal Beach was closed Wednesday, as was Beach D at Sandy Hook, where high amounts of bacteria from human and animal waste was found in the water. Beach D re-opened Thursday, but Ideal has remained closed. The bacteria found at both beaches is enterococci, a fecal bacteria. Fecal bacteria from sewer lines often flows into waterways after periods of heavy rain, a phenomenon known as combined sewer overflow.

A sign was posted at Ideal Thursday. Samples measured at 640 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water taken there, according to the Asbury Park Press. The standard for safe swimming is 104 CFU/100mL.