Swimming deemed safe: Water quality alerts lifted at 13 NJ beaches. - Asbury Park Press

Swimming deemed safe: Water quality alerts lifted at 13 NJ beaches.

Water quality alerts lifted at 13 New Jersey beaches

One-minute read.
Amanda Oglesby

Thirteen Jersey Shore beaches were declared safe for swimming on Wednesday after having high counts of fecal coliform, or bacteria that live in the intestines of animals, discovered earlier in the week.

Fecal coliform frequently do not make people sick on their own, but health agencies use them as an indicator that other harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites may be present in water.

Children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk from swimming in contaminated water. Swimming in such contamination can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, headache, fever as well as ear, nose and throat infections, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, advisories were lifted at all of the following beaches after subsequent water quality tests showed bacteria counts had returned to levels considered safe by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection:

- Highlands: Recreation Center beach, 22 Snug Harbor Ave.
- Lavallette: Bay beach at Brooklyn Avenue.
- Ocean Gate: Beach at Anglesea Avenue.
- Pine Beach: East beach at Station Avenue.
- Point Pleasant: Beaches at River Avenue and Maxson Avenue.
- Seaside Heights: Bay beach at Hancock Avenue.
- Seaside Park: Bay beach at 5th Avenue.
- Atlantic City: 57th Street bay beach
- Avalon: The bay beach at 57th Street.
- Cape May: Ocean beach at Philadelphia Avenue.
- Upper Township: Beesley's Point Beach.
- Wildwood Crest: The ocean beach at Hollywood Avenue.

Pet and wildlife droppings as well as leaky sewer systems are some of the leading causes of fecal coliform pollution in water. Rain can contribute to the problem by washing waste out of sewers and off yards into streams and rivers.

Pet owners should pick up waste to help reduce water pollution, according to the EPA. In addition, feeding wildlife like ducks and geese often contributes to fecal coliform pollution in water, according to water quality experts.

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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.