Jersey Shore Beach Closed, Others Under Advisory For High Bacteria Levels In Water
OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. (CBS) -- Several Jersey Shore beaches are dealing with water advisories and one is closed today as a result of high bacteria levels in oceans, bays and rivers.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection closed the beach at Barnegat Light bay after a water sample taken exceeded the quality standard set by the agency.
According to NJDEP, samples are taken daily and analyzed for the bacteria Enterococci, which is found in animal and human waste and is an indicator of possible contamination of bathing waters. An advisory is placed on a beach when the water exceeds a set limit. A beach is closed if the bacteria present exceeds the limit for two days in a row.
Advisories are currently in effect in Wildwood at Bennett and Montgomery beaches, as well Seaside Heights at Lincoln Avenue beach.
Other advisories are in place for the L Street beach along Belmar's Shark River and Stockton beach along the bay in Long Beach Island.
Despite today's closure, and several others throughout the summer, 99.9 percent of beach days were open for bathing, according to officials.
