15 N.J. Beaches Shut Down Because Of Bacterial Contamination

Bacteria continue to plague New Jersey beaches this week: 15 beaches were closed Wednesday and four were placed under a "water quality advisory." They remained closed on Thursday (see list below).

The 15 Jersey Shore beaches were closed because of bacteria linked to urinary-tract infections, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The announcement came after several days of on-and-off heavy rains that may or may not have had an impact on the Jersey Shore beaches, authorities said.

The possible culprit is enterococcus, a bacterium linked to urinary-tract infections, endocarditis, bacteremia, catheter-related infections, wound infections and intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, according to medscape.com.

The New Jersey State Sanitary Code requires that the concentration of bacteria not exceed 104 colonies of enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of sample. Enterococci is a type of bacterium that is an indicator of possible contamination within bathing waters.

The Department of Environmental Protection administers the New Jersey Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program and reported beach advisories and beach closings and other events.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the following beaches closed because they exceeded 104 colonies of bacteria:

Atlantic County:

• Somers Point, New Jersey Ave
• Ventnor, Dorset
• Ventnor. New Haven
• Ventnor, Austin Ave
• Ventnor, Washington
• Atlantic City, Missouri
• Atlantic City, North Carolina
• Atlantic City, Pennsylvania
• Atlantic City, Montgomery Ave
• Atlantic City, Bartram
• Atlantic City, Annapolis Ave
• Atlantic City, Georgia

Ocean County:

• Beachwood Borough Beachwood Beach West
• Ocean Pine Beach Borough West Beach Avon Rd
• Ocean Stafford Township Jennifer

Here are the beaches that have placed under a water quality advisory:

Monmouth County:

• Sea Girt, The Terrace
• Sea Girt, Borough Beacon Blvd

Ocean County:

• Barnegat Light Borough 25th St Bay Front
• Long Beach Township New Jersey

Patch file photo