22 South Jersey beaches and a total of 31 beaches statewide were the focus of beach closures and advisories Tuesday because of elevated bacteria levels following major storms over the past few days. 

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection closed three beaches on the Toms River and issues as well as water quality advisories at 31 ocean, bay or river beaches from Monmouth to Cape May counties because of high levels of enterococci.

Entercocci bacteria is normally found in feces. Two types cause human disease, most commonly in the form of urinary tract and wound infections.

The beaches closed were Beachwood Beach West in Beachwood, Summit Beach in Island Heights and West Beach at Avon Road in Pine Beach, all on the Toms River in Ocean County. There were extremely high numbers at Beachwood West, posting 1300 and Summit at 1800 colony-forming units (cfu) per 100 ml of water.

The New Jersey State Sanitary Code requires that the concentration of bacteria not exceed 104 colonies of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of sample. Any initial sample that exceeds the state standard requires that the local health agency issue a swimming advisory at the bathing beach where the sample was collected.

Here is a list of the beaches impacted in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties:

Atlantic County

  • Atlantic City:
    • Bartram
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
    • Pennsylvania
    • Montgomery Ave
    • Georgia
    • Annapolis Ave
  • Somers Point :
    • New Jersey Ave (Bay)
  • Ventnor:
    • Washington
    • Dorset
    • Austin Ave
    • New Haven

Cape May County

  • North Wildwood:
    • 2nd & JFK
  • Ocean City:
    • Surf
    • Park
    • North

Ocean County

  • Ocean Gate Borough
    • Wildwood river
  • Point Pleasant Beach Borough
    • Maryland ocean
    • Point Pleasant Borough
    • River
  • Stafford Township
    • Jennifer bay
  • Toms River Township oceans:
    • 4th Ave
    • North Beach

 

More From Cat Country 107.3