The NJ DEP in
cooperation with local county health departments manages the Cooperative
Coastal Monitoring Program. From mid-May to mid-September, recreational beach
water quality at 217 beaches including 180 ocean and other bay monitoring
stations is monitored each week. Water
samples are collected every Monday, and tested for the presence and abundance
of Entercoccus. DEP posts the results of
these tests to the CCMP website every Tuesday and in turn COA posts the results
to Facebook.
Since the July
update, COA has been compiling the CCMP water quality data to track down the
frequencies of closures and advisories and is evaluating the difference between
mild and severe rainfall events and its effects on the bacteria levels in the
water. Highlights as of mid-August:
· - 67
beach advisories and 33 closures in total
· - the
week of July 24 had the maximum number of advisories and closings thus far—a
total of 31 advisories and 15
closures. The cause? A major rain event just prior to the sampling pounded
the coast with 1.6 inches of rain in 48 hours.
COA will
continue to evaluate the data for the remainder of the monitoring season and
inform the public through weekly social media posts. More information can be found at njbeaches.org.
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