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A sign that the summer is fast approaching: the detection of fecal bacteria began on the beaches of New Jersey.
On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the state-run coasts monitoring program, water quality tests were launched Monday on hundreds of ocean beaches, from the bay and the river. Coastal monitoring of the coast begins May 20, in anticipation of the Memorial Day weekend.
"We have more than 600 coastal bathing beaches in New Jersey and we regularly sample 216 stations," said Sheri Shifren, who runs the monitoring program of the Department of Environmental Protection. "Our sampling is to determine if the quality of the water at the beach meets the standard for faecal indicator bacteria and the beach will be open for swimming."
As a rule, swimming is prohibited only after two consecutive days of poor test results.
The state code requires that the concentration of enterococci, a type of bacteria present in animal and human wastes, does not exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters of sample.
When a sample exceeds the state standard, a swimming notice is posted.
"The beach remains open for swimming, but the public has to decide for themselves whether it should go in the water," Shifren said.
Additional samples of the water in question are collected the next day, while accredited health inspectors inspect the area to identify potential sources of pollution.
If two consecutive daily samples exceed the standard, public swimming is prohibited on this beach until the sample results are below standard. Other activities on the beach, such as sunbathing, are not affected.
Closures can also be caused by debris or medical products, extreme weather events, breakage or splashing on sewer lines feeding a bathing beach.
Exceeding the state standard could cause gastrointestinal and respiratory problems to swimmers.
According to the DEP, swimming in or coming into contact with water may result in one or more of the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Irritated throat
- Cough
- Runny nose / sneezing
- Rash and itching
- Irritation of the ears and eyes
- Fever and chills
Most of the time, these symptoms are minor, the DEP said. But they can sometimes be more serious, especially in children and the elderly.
During the 2018 bathing season, more than 4,000 samples were collected. Ninety-eight percent of ocean samples and 95% of all samples were in compliance with the state standard.
Shipments closures have been recorded only four times in 2018 on the beaches of the ocean, as well as four closures on bay beaches and 13 on river beaches. High levels of faecal bacteria, said Shifren, occur after rainfall.
"The more development there is, the more pavement there is, the more runoff," she said. "And the rain that comes in contact with the pollutants on the ground carries them through the pipes to our waterways."
Last year, seven times in Monmouth County, four beaches were automatically closed when another storm drain pipe was opened nearby in order to cope with excessive rains.
Water quality tests are conducted every Monday by September. Results usually take about 24 hours and can be found on Tuesdays at njbeaches.org. If a track is included in the "Tips" tab, check again if it has been erased or moved to the "Closures" list.
The results of the coastal surveillance flights of the DEP are also available on the site. The flights take place six days a week.
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Contact Dino Flammia reporter at [email protected].
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