On Mondays from May to September, the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection and/or local coastal NJ counties send out water quality testers to gather samples of water at every "open" beach on the NJ oceanfront. Test results come in, and, if there is a problem, there can be a posted advisory for an exceedance of the bacteria standard (104 colony forming units per 100 ml solution). If a second day's sample is also problematic, the beach can be closed. The standard is based on studies that have links bacteria levels with illness rates. The most recent information from EPA suggests that at this level 1 in 28 swimmers becomes ill with credible gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachache with or without fever). Other infections such as ear, eye, nose, respiratory, and skin infections may also occur. Check your beach's sampling history and avoid swimming within 200 feet of storm drains after it rains.
The most up-to-date data (including daily updates) can be found at njbeaches.org.
WEEK:
August 5 Any Advisories or Closures? (Thursday)
The four Monmouth County ocean beaches surrounding the Wreck Pond outfall, Brown and York Avenue beaches in Spring Lake and the Terrace and Beacon Blvd. beaches in Sea Girt, are closed today as a precaution due to 0.87” of rain.
19th, 20th and 21st Street Beaches in North Wildwood are closed today as a precaution due to a sewage spill into the storm system. Cape May Health Department collected samples today and results will be available tomorrow.
All other lifeguarded beaches are OPEN today.
Here are a few beaches that are closed regularly in Monmouth County when it rains as a precaution (according to the Monmouth County Health Department):
- Brown Avenue beach in Spring LakeYork Avenue beach in Spring Lake
- The Terrace Blvd beach in Sea Girt
- Beacon Blvd beach in Sea Girt
- L Street beach in Belmar
- Shark River Beach and Yacht Club beaches
In Ocean County:
- There are some bay beaches, such as Beachwood Beach West, that have had repeated high levels of bacteria above the standard.
Check out CleanOceanAction.org to find out more about our advocacy to keep you better informed about risks, and about our efforts to make beaches safer for people around the region!
