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Several New Jersey swimming pools are being inspected after water tests found high levels of fecal bacteria at water recreation facilities across the state.
As of June 21, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued swimming advisories for five coastal areas in Ocean and Cape May counties.
The advisories were caused by high levels of enterococci, bacteria commonly used to measure water quality in recreational swimming pools.
POPULAR BEACHES CLOSED AS HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS PROMOTE HEALTH CONCERNS FOR WALKERS
Beach 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 conducted regularly by the DEP, working with the New Jersey Department of Health and local health officials.
Several New Jersey swimming pools are being monitored closely after water quality tests found high concentrations of fecal bacteria. (Stock)
State standards do not allow more than 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of sampled water. If the test result exceeds that limit, a swimming advisory is issued and additional samples are collected until the water level returns to acceptable levels, the department said.
However, a swimming advisory does not automatically result in a swimming pool being closed.
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Under state law, beaches are closed to swimmers only after two consecutive samples fail to meet water quality standards. They remain closed until tests show that bacteria levels have returned to acceptable levels.
As of June 21, the DEP’s monitoring dashboard showed no active closures of the coast or freshwater.
Several areas along the bay remain under advisories due to elevated levels of bacteria found during recent water quality testing. (Stock)
The advice follows a wider round of checks carried out last week.
On June 16, elevated levels of fecal bacteria were found at three beaches in Monmouth County and six rivers and bays along the Jersey Shore, NJ.com reported. Many of those areas returned to acceptable levels following further testing.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists several potential sources of enterococci, including discharges from wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, storm water runoff, sewage discharged from recreational boats and waste from domestic animals and wildlife.
Although the EPA says enterococci are “generally not considered dangerous to humans,” the bacteria can be a warning sign that other disease-causing organisms may be present in the water.
As of June 21, DEP’s monitoring dashboard showed no closures in effect at coastal or freshwater recreation areas. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Those pathogens can include bacteria, viruses and protozoa that can cause diseases that affect the skin, eyes, ears and respiratory system.
The EPA also warns that eating seafood harvested from sewage-contaminated waters may cause illness.
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Officials will continue to monitor the affected areas and collect additional samples until virus levels return to acceptable standards.
Fox News Digital’s Jessica Mekles contributed reporting.
