8th & 9th Street Beaches In Ocean City, N.J. Open Again After Brief Closure
OCEAN CITY, N.J. (CBS) – Swimmers are allowed back in the water after a sewage overflow led officials in Ocean City, New Jersey to close the 8th and 9th Street beaches Monday.
According to authorities, the Cape May Health Department notified Ocean City at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday that it was safe for bathers to return to the water.
On Monday, a grease blockage in the sewer line at the Strand Theater caused a sewage overflow to the storm drain, which discharges to the ocean.
"There was a clogged sewer line adjacent to some of the businesses near here, and there was a discharge of some material into the street that possibly entered the storm drain," said Michael Dattilo, an Ocean City business administrator.
Cape May County Health officials collected water samples and expect to have results by Tuesday morning.
"It's absolutely precautionary, but this is the right thing to do when you think it's a possibility that this has occurred," said Dattilo.
Some vacationers didn't get the warning and say it would have been nice to know before their beach day started.
"We were playing in the waves a lot. It does make us feel uncomfortable," said Greg Rojakovick.
Others say it won't keep them off the beach, but they may think twice about jumping in the water.
