Summer travelers warned after fecal bacteria levels in water exceed safety standards

Several New Jersey swimming areas remain under scrutiny after water testing found elevated levels of fecal bacteria at recreational water sites across the state.

As of June 21, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) listed swimming advisories at five coastal locations in Ocean and Cape May counties.

The advisories were triggered by elevated levels of enterococci, bacteria commonly used to measure water quality at recreational swimming sites.

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The coastal advisories include Cedar Point Beach and Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County, as well as Wildwood and Bay, Baywyn and Bay, and Ferry and Bay in Lower Township, Cape May County, the department noted. 

Water testing at New Jersey’s public recreational bathing beaches is carried out regularly by the DEP, working with the New Jersey Department of Health and local health officials.

State standards allow no more than 104 enterococci colonies per 100 milliliters of sampled water. If a test result exceeds that threshold, a swimming advisory is issued and additional samples are collected until water quality returns to acceptable levels, the department said.

However, a swimming advisory does not automatically result in the closure of a swimming area.

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Under state rules, beaches are shut down to swimmers only after two consecutive samples fail to meet water quality standards. They remain closed until testing shows bacteria levels have returned to acceptable levels.

As of June 21, the DEP's monitoring dashboard showed no active coastal or freshwater closures.

The advisories follow a broader round of testing conducted last week.

On June 16, elevated fecal bacteria levels were detected at three ocean beaches in Monmouth County and six river and bay locations along the Jersey Shore, NJ.com reported. Many of those sites returned to acceptable levels following additional testing.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists several possible sources of enterococci, including wastewater treatment plant discharges, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, sewage released from recreational boats and waste from domestic animals and wildlife.

While the EPA says enterococci are "typically not considered harmful to humans," the bacteria can serve as a warning sign that other disease-causing organisms may be present in the water.

Those pathogens can include viruses, bacteria and protozoa that may cause illnesses affecting the skin, eyes, ears and respiratory system.

The EPA also warns that consuming seafood harvested from waters contaminated by fecal matter may result in illness.

Officials will continue monitoring the affected locations and collecting additional samples until bacteria levels return to acceptable standards.

Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.