A.C., Ocean City Beaches Among 31 Flagged by N.J. DEP

The agency has also completely shut down three beaches in North Jersey.

Wildwood beach

Photo | Dan McQuade

Elevated bacteria levels have prompted the Department of Environmental Protection to close three New Jersey beaches and issue a water quality advisory at 31 others.

The N.J. DEP closed Beachwood Beach West, Summit Beach and West Beach in Toms River. Advisories are issued at more than two dozen beaches stretching from Monmouth to Cape May counties, including at beaches in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties.

The warnings follow heavy rain that could have caused pollution runoff to flow into streams feeding into rivers and bays.

The N.J. State Sanitary Code maintains that concentrations of bacteria should not exceed 104 colonies of Enterococci, an indicator of possible contamination within bathing waters, per 100 milliliters of sample. Beach advisories are issued when initial samples exceed the state standard, while closures are issued when two consecutive bacteria samples exceed the state standard.

The N.J. DEP has issued advisories for the following beaches:

County
Atlantic
   Municipality
Somers Point City
   Beach
New Jersey Ave
Atlantic   Ventnor City   Dorset
Atlantic   Ventnor City   Washington
Atlantic   Ventnor City   Austin Ave
Atlantic   Ventnor City   New Haven
Atlantic   Atlantic City   Georgia
Atlantic   Atlantic City   Bartram
Atlantic   Atlantic City   Montgomery Ave
Atlantic   Atlantic City   Annapolis Ave
Atlantic   Atlantic City   Missouri
Atlantic   Atlantic City   North Carolina
Atlantic   Atlantic City   Pennsylvania
Cape May   North Wildwood City   2nd & JFK
Cape May   Ocean City   North
Cape May   Ocean City   Surf
Cape May   Ocean City   Park
Monmouth   Deal Borough   Hathaway Avenue Beach
Monmouth   Deal Borough   Philips Ave
Monmouth   Highlands Borough   Miller Beach
Monmouth   Long Branch City   South Bath
Monmouth   Long Branch City   North Bath
Monmouth   Middletown Township   Ideal
Monmouth   Sea Bright Borough   Rumson Rd
Monmouth   Sea Girt Borough   New York Blvd
Monmouth   Spring Lake Borough   York Ave
Ocean   Ocean Gate Borough   Wildwood
Ocean   Point Pleasant Beach Borough   Maryland
Ocean   Point Pleasant Borough   River
Ocean   Stafford Township   Jennifer
Ocean   Toms River Township   4th Ave
Ocean   Toms River Township   North Beach

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