LBI Has Some Of NJ's Dirtiest Beaches, Report Says
LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ — Three of Long Beach Island's beaches present some of the greatest risk of exposure to sewage or other fecal contamination among New Jersey beaches, according to a new report.
The Barnegat Light Bay Beach's waters were "potentially unsafe" on nine of 21 testing days in 2019, according to the "Safe for Swimming" report by Environmental New Jersey. The beach ranked second in New Jersey for beaches with the most "potentially unsafe swimming days" last year.
The 75th Bay Front beach in Harvey Cedars ranked fourth in the state, with potentially unsafe water on four of 16 testing days. The 16th Street Bay Front beach in Surf City is listed sixth in the Garden State with three of 13 testing days showing potentially unsafe water.
One study found that enclosed beaches, such as those in bays, were five times more likely that open coastal beaches to exceed state standards for fecal bacteria, according to Environmental New Jersey. But the report also says many risks stem from human activity, such as overdevelopment in coastal areas.
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The environmental group analyzed data of fecal bacteria from beaches in 29 states and Puerto Rico. The study indicated that 386 — or about one-eighth — of the beaches surveyed were potentially unsafe on at least 25 percent of the days when sampling occurred.
In New Jersey, 73 of 222 beaches tested were potentially unsafe for at least one day last year.
Here are the average percentages of potentially unsafe sampling days in 2019 for beaches in New Jersey counties:
Cape May County: 5 percent, 69 beaches tested
Ocean County: 5 percent, 60 beaches tested
Monmouth County: 5 percent, 45 beaches tested
Atlantic County: 1 percent, 48 beaches tested
The state requires that officials issue a swimming advisory when a sample indicates the concentration of the indicator bacteria, enterococci, exceeds state standards of 104 colonies per 100 milliliters.
Beaches are closed when their water exceeds the threshold on two straight days and remain in place until the water's bacteria tests below the standard.
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This article originally appeared on the Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch
