LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP – Two bayside township beaches are under an advisory after water sampling turned up higher than normal bacteria counts.
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection issued advisories for New Jersey and Stockton beaches because the “sample exceeded water quality standard.”
Water quality standards are set by the New Jersey Department of Health. Officials test the water at 180 ocean and 35 bayside monitoring stations across the shore.
They test for Enterococci, a bacteria found in human and animal waste. State standards require that samples not exceed 104 bacteria colonies for every 100-milliliter sample.
An advisory warns the public that the water may not be safe for bathing, although the beaches remain open. Additional samples are taken to determine bacteria growth.
If two consecutive samples show bacteria exceed state health standards, the beaches are closed for all water activities until Enterococci returns to healthy limits.
At last testing, Stockton beach had 450 colonies per 100 milliliters and New Jersey beach had 160 colonies.
Another beach, this one in Beachwood, also tested outside norms, but is not yet open for the season.
