N.J. DEP Increases Beach Closures to 15, Including A.C.

The closures are the result of concerning bacteria levels.

beach closures

(Gizelka/iStockphoto.com)

Elevated bacteria levels have caused the Department of Environmental Protection to close 15 beaches in New Jersey, including Atlantic City beaches. 

The concerning conditions were announced earlier this week. On Wednesday, the DEP issued three beach closures (all in Toms River in North Jersey) and 31 water advisories. As of Thursday morning, the closures increased in number (instead affecting Atlantic and Ocean counties) and the water quality advisories decreased to four (in Monmouth and Ocean counties).

The beach closures are due to potentially dangerous levels of Enterococci bacteria, likely the result of heavy rain that caused sewage and 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 per 100 milliliters of sample. Beach closures are issued when two consecutive bacteria samples exceed the state standard, while beach advisories are issued when initial samples exceed the state standard.

The N.J. DEP has closed the following beaches:

County
Atlantic
     Municipality
Somers Point City
     Beach    
New Jersey Ave
Atlantic     Ventnor City     Dorset
Atlantic     Ventnor City     New Haven
Atlantic     Ventnor City     Austin Ave
Atlantic     Ventnor City     Washington
Atlantic     Atlantic City     Missouri
Atlantic     Atlantic City     North Carolina
Atlantic     Atlantic City     Pennsylvania
Atlantic     Atlantic City     Montgomery Ave
Atlantic     Atlantic City     Bartram
Atlantic     Atlantic City     Annapolis Ave
Atlantic     Atlantic City     Georgia
Ocean     Beachwood Borough     Beachwood Beach West
Ocean     Pine Beach Borough     West Beach Avon Rd
Ocean     Stafford Township     Jennifer

Water quality advisories have been issued at the following beaches:

County
Monmouth
     Municipality
Sea Girt Borough
     Beach
The Terrace
Monmouth     Sea Girt Borough     Beacon Blvd
Ocean     Barnegat Light Borough     25th St Bay Front
Ocean      Long Beach Township     New Jersey

Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter.