5 NJ Beaches At Risk Of Closing Due To Fecal Bacteria, DEP Says

Five of New Jersey's beaches are at risk of closing because of "unsafe" levels of bacteria found in animal and human waste, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. All 5 are in the ocean.

The five beaches exceed 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 the five beaches which, for the time being, are open to the public (see list below).

The problem was likely caused by heavy rains over the past week; many of New Jersey's beaches will likely be too unsafe for swimming anyway because of Hurricane Florence's impact on the surf.

Read more: Gov. Murphy Updates NJ On Hurricane Florence's Potential Impact

Nearly all the beaches exceeded the limit for Enterococci, a bacteria found in animal and human waste, the DEP says. They will be tested again on Tuesday; if these beaches continue to exceed the allowable limits, they will be closed.

Some of the harmful effects of Enterococci are infections that cause fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The same problem happened earlier in the summer, when 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.

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

Here are the beaches:

• Ventnor: Dorset
• Ventnor: New Haven
• Longport: 26th Ave
• Seaside Heights: Sheridan
• Seaside Heights: Lincoln Ave

Photo Credit: Alexander Nguyen of Patch