Most NJ Beaches Open After Water Quality Retesting

If you’re headed to the beach today, there’s some good news. With the exception of two Ocean County beaches, all others are open, after water quality retests showed bacteria levels are normal.

High bacteria levels closed two Ocean County beaches Wednesday and placed many others in Monmouth and Ocean counties under close watch.

State environmental officials said the closures are at the Avon Road river beach, Pine Beach and the Beachwood Beach river beach, Beachwood.

All swimming advisories have been lifted. All other lifeguarded ocean, river and bay beaches are open.

“We re-tested at all of the beaches that had high levels of bacteria on Monday” said Larry Hajna, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection.

He said its not unusual this time of year given all of the rain we’ve had recently.

“After a storm there are at least two or three beaches that close to swimmers or have advisories.”

Each week during the summer season, water samples are collected at 175 ocean and 43 bay monitoring stations.

State regulations do not require health departments to post notices or close beaches due to high bacteria counts unless the water quality fails a re-test.

Clean Ocean Action officials say always check water conditions before you swim.

What can you do?

Avoid swimming within 200 feet of a storm water outfall (don’t know where those are? Call our office and we’ll help you find out). Heavy rains following dry spells tend to be absorbed less by the ground and can wash pollution that has accumulated on yards or streets into storm drains and then into streams, rivers or ocean waters.

If you have any cuts or open sores, avoid swimming until they have healed.

Check out www.njbeaches.org for beach testing results and more information.