Five Jersey Shore beaches are under advisories for high levels of fecal bacterial on Tuesday, July 2, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Fecal bacteria, or enterococci, is common in the excrement and intestines of animals, and was found in high levels in water samples collected at each of the five beaches on July 1. The bacteria is used as an indicator species to signify the likelihood that other illness-causing microbes, viruses or parasites are present in water.
Swimming in fecal contaminated water can lead to gastroenteritis, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramping, diarrhea, as well as ear, nose and throat infections, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. Young children, elderly adults and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to getting sick from contact with such water, according to the agency.
Swimming and bathing advisories are triggered when levels of enterococci bacteria exceed 104 colony forming units per 100 milliliters of water.
The beach advisories were issued at:
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Beachwood’s western beach, which had 130 colony forming units.
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Long Beach Township’s Stockton Avenue bay front beach, which had 690 colony forming units.
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Ship Bottom’s 14th Street bay front beach, with 220 colony forming units.
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Stafford’s Jennifer Lane bay beach, with 110 colony forming units.
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Atlantic City’s Arkansas Avenue beach, with 150 colony forming units.
Untreated sewage from leaky septic systems or sewer pipes, as well as wildlife and pet waste, are some of the largest contributors to fecal bacteria in water, according to the EPA.
Water samples were recollected at the five beaches Tuesday, but results will not be available until Wednesday, July 3. If Tuesday’s samples also show high levels of enterococci, health officials will close the contaminated beach to swimming to and bathing.
Despite the advisories, the beaches remained open on Tuesday.
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: Water advisories issued; bacteria found at these NJ beaches
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