NJ swimming alert: 16 Jersey Shore beaches have high bacteria counts

Amanda Oglesby, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·1 min read

UPDATE: Seaside Heights bay beach closed due to fecal bacteria levels

New Jersey environmental officials issued water quality alerts at 16 ocean and bay beaches on Tuesday, Aug. 8, where high levels of a bacterial found in feces were detected. On Wednesday, 15 of those beaches were considered safe for swimming once again.

The beaches showed high levels of enterococci, a microbe commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. High levels of the bacteria can indicate the presence of other, illness-causing pathogens, viruses and protozoa, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Feces' bacteria typically ends up in creeks and rivers through storm runoff, which flushes pet, livestock or wildlife droppings into waterways. Leaky septic and sewer systems are other common causes of high bacteria levels in water.

Young children, elderly adults and people with compromised immune systems are the most at risk of severe illness from swimming in contaminated water, according to the EPA. Swimming in water tainted with sewage or animal waste can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, headache and fever, as well as ear, nose and throat infections, according to the agency.

Atlantic County

Atlantic City: Ocean beaches at Michigan Avenue, Arkansas Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, South Carolina Avenue, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. and New York Avenue.

Monmouth County

Deal: Ocean beach at Roosevelt Avenue.

Highlands: Miller Beach and the bay beach at the Highland Recreation Center.

Long Branch: Ocean beaches at the Elberon Bathing Club and the Ocean Beach Club.

Neptune: Ocean beach at Broadway.

Sea Girt: Ocean beach at New York Boulevard.

Ocean County

Point Pleasant: River beach at River Avenue.

Seaside Heights: Bay beach at Hancock Avenue.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 15 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ water quality advisories issued at 16 Jersey Shore beaches